Regional Archaeological Museum of Tiwanaku, Archaeological museum in Tiwanaku, Bolivia

The Regional Archaeological Museum of Tiwanaku is a cultural institution in the town of Tiwanaku, Ingavi Province, La Paz Department, Bolivia, close to the archaeological complex. Its building was designed by architect Carlos Villagómez, who took elements from Tiwanaku culture architecture, such as a stepped central courtyard. It keeps funerary archaeological pieces, ceramic objects and stone sculptures, among them the Bennett Stela.

The museum building was designed by architect Carlos Villagómez, who drew on Tiwanaku architecture, including a stepped central courtyard. It stands beside the town of Tiwanaku, a short distance from the archaeological complex, and holds funerary pieces, ceramics and stone sculptures, among them the Bennett Stela.

The name reflects the pre-Hispanic Tiwanaku civilization whose artistic legacy appears throughout the displayed objects. You can observe how ancient craftspeople used stone carvings and pottery to represent their world and beliefs.

The museum stands beside the town of Tiwanaku, a short distance from the archaeological complex rather than inside it, so it can be visited before or after the ruins. The building is designed with a stepped central courtyard, and the architect was Carlos Villagómez. Allow time for the stone sculptures and funerary pieces indoors.

The Bennett Monolith on display is a replica: the original seven-metre stela was moved to La Paz in 2003 and now stands in front of the city's stadium. The museum keeps the carved figure that was long its centrepiece, so what visitors see here is a cast of the monolith.