Iskanwaya, Pre-Columbian archaeological site in Cordillera Real, Bolivia.
Iskanwaya is an archaeological site on a mountain ridge in the Cordillera Real, with over 70 stone structures scattered across the landscape. The buildings are made from slate blocks and arranged in a pattern of rooms surrounding communal courtyards.
The site was built by the Mollo culture between 1145 and 1425, showing early urban development in the Andes. This civilization flourished well before Inca expansion reached this mountain region.
The site reveals how highland communities organized their social spaces, with burial grounds and storage areas reflecting daily life and beliefs. The arrangement of dwellings around central plazas shows how people structured their shared public spaces.
To explore the site, visitors need to arrange access through the local community of Aucapata, as there are few formal services available. Plan ahead since infrastructure is minimal and you will depend on local assistance for navigation and information.
The settlement operated a sophisticated irrigation system fed by the Naranjani stream, enabling farming in this difficult mountain terrain. This water engineering demonstrates how the Mollo people skillfully adapted to their environment.
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