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It wasn't until the 19th century that most archaeologists began

Aug. 29, 2018 by Devin Jones

It wasn't until the 19th century that most archaeologists began to dig in the site, as well as the surrounding mountainous terrain. This period of the Tiwanaku was particularly important for the region's indigenous peoples in the south—a region that has seen massive, violent migrations through the last half of the century and is known for its diversity of populations and history. But the area's location also made some archaeologists uneasy, as part of a national park that has been designated an international park in the U.S. and Mexico. (The park is located in the foothills of the Rio Grande in Mexico.)

The Tiwanaku (pronounced "tok"), or "Voyage," are believed to have been built on the ruins of the former U.S. Army National Monument (N.M.M.) in Mexico City, which was designated a national monument in 2010. In a separate study, the Center for Archaeological Studies at the University of Utah's Tua Alegre (in Arizona) and a team of scientists described the construction of an enormous pyramid that spans a series of terraces.

"It's an immense monument that has a history, a history that has been shaped by this kind of archaeological discovery," said archaeologist Brian L. S. Miller, who led the study.

The researchers say it is a unique, and perhaps unique, way of documenting indigenous communities in the ancient world. The site, at its core, contains only small stone structures, most of which have been lost for thousands of years—but some are still on display today at the National Monument site in Utah.

"It's one of the last pieces of the monument that's in the U.S.," S. Miller said, "and it does bring back a lot of memory of the past and reminds everyone of how much we value the history of indigenous culture in Latin America."

The Tiwanaku's unique historical significance is one that the region's indigenous peoples and researchers hope will become a part of a larger international community of researchers, scientists, and public access researchers who want to better understand the complex complex of structures and structures of ancient Bolivia.