1,000 years before Columbus they were pyramid builders warriors the
they were pyramid builders warriors the
they were pyramid builders warriors the architects of an empire in South America
architects of an empire in South America
architects of an empire in South America the tihuanaco lived in the valley of
the tihuanaco lived in the valley of
the tihuanaco lived in the valley of Lake Titicaca for 1500 years and then
Lake Titicaca for 1500 years and then
Lake Titicaca for 1500 years and then their civilization vanished leaving
their civilization vanished leaving
their civilization vanished leaving behind only stone ruins and the enduring
behind only stone ruins and the enduring
behind only stone ruins and the enduring mystery of their passing
mystery of their passing
mystery of their passing the centerpiece of Tiwanaku spiritual
the centerpiece of Tiwanaku spiritual
the centerpiece of Tiwanaku spiritual power was the AH Capano pyramid
power was the AH Capano pyramid
power was the AH Capano pyramid surrounding the pyramid cities and
surrounding the pyramid cities and
surrounding the pyramid cities and temples was a vast maze of channels and
temples was a vast maze of channels and
temples was a vast maze of channels and ridges though they look like irrigation
ridges though they look like irrigation
ridges though they look like irrigation ditches they were far too complex the
ditches they were far too complex the
ditches they were far too complex the mystery of their purpose is one that
mystery of their purpose is one that
mystery of their purpose is one that archaeologist Alan colada had been
archaeologist Alan colada had been
archaeologist Alan colada had been struggling to solve colada had a hunch
struggling to solve colada had a hunch
struggling to solve colada had a hunch and a proven he asked a local farmer to
and a proven he asked a local farmer to
and a proven he asked a local farmer to plant crops along the channel banks then
plant crops along the channel banks then
plant crops along the channel banks then the archaeologists and the farmers led
the archaeologists and the farmers led
the archaeologists and the farmers led in the water crops sprouted and began to
in the water crops sprouted and began to
in the water crops sprouted and began to grow but then a tremendous frost hit the
grow but then a tremendous frost hit the
grow but then a tremendous frost hit the Altiplano it devastated other fields but
Altiplano it devastated other fields but
Altiplano it devastated other fields but the crops planted along the canals were
the crops planted along the canals were
the crops planted along the canals were not affected the key to the
not affected the key to the
not affected the key to the sophistication of these of this raised
sophistication of these of this raised
sophistication of these of this raised field system are really these canals
field system are really these canals
field system are really these canals that you see here all around me what’s
that you see here all around me what’s
that you see here all around me what’s important about them is they function
important about them is they function
important about them is they function like gigantic solar collectors if you
like gigantic solar collectors if you
like gigantic solar collectors if you touch this water you’ll see that it’s
touch this water you’ll see that it’s
touch this water you’ll see that it’s warm enough to bathe and it’s truly
warm enough to bathe and it’s truly
warm enough to bathe and it’s truly remarkable and here we’re up at 14,000
remarkable and here we’re up at 14,000
remarkable and here we’re up at 14,000 feet and that’s really the key to this
feet and that’s really the key to this
feet and that’s really the key to this system it really prevents frost from
system it really prevents frost from
system it really prevents frost from damaging the crops that would be growing
damaging the crops that would be growing
damaging the crops that would be growing up on these field platform surfaces here
up on these field platform surfaces here
up on these field platform surfaces here the mystery was solved the tihuanaco had
the mystery was solved the tihuanaco had
the mystery was solved the tihuanaco had found a way to control the environment
found a way to control the environment
found a way to control the environment of the valley itself their canals stored
of the valley itself their canals stored
of the valley itself their canals stored heat during the day then radiated it
heat during the day then radiated it
heat during the day then radiated it over the fields at night this remarkable
over the fields at night this remarkable
over the fields at night this remarkable system provided the wealth to build an
system provided the wealth to build an
system provided the wealth to build an empire and to keep it for over a
empire and to keep it for over a
empire and to keep it for over a millennium but then amid growing
millennium but then amid growing
millennium but then amid growing political turmoil the Empire began to
political turmoil the Empire began to
political turmoil the Empire began to decline for the Tiwanaku
decline for the Tiwanaku
decline for the Tiwanaku it was the end but for the local farmers
it was the end but for the local farmers
it was the end but for the local farmers it is a new beginning
it is a new beginning
it is a new beginning secure from the frost the raised fields
secure from the frost the raised fields
secure from the frost the raised fields proved to be seven times more productive
proved to be seven times more productive
proved to be seven times more productive providing hope for a better harvest and
providing hope for a better harvest and
providing hope for a better harvest and pride for their ancestors wisdom that
pride for their ancestors wisdom that
pride for their ancestors wisdom that has returned
”
Be First to Comment