Iskanwaya facts for kids
Iskanwaya
|
|
| Location | Bolivia, La Paz Department, Muñecas Province, Aucapata Municipality |
|---|---|
| Region | Altiplano |
| Coordinates | 15°29′12″S 68°40′27″W / 15.48655800°S 68.67428500°W |
Iskanwaya is an amazing ancient site in Bolivia. It's a special place built long before Christopher Columbus came to the Americas. You can find it high up on a mountain ridge, overlooking the Llica River. This incredible site is about 325 kilometers (202 miles) north of La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia.
Iskanwaya is even bigger and older than the famous Machu Picchu in Peru! However, it's not as well-preserved, meaning some parts are more worn down over time.
Contents
Where Iskanwaya Is Found
The ancient site of Iskanwaya is located on the edge of the Cordillera Real, which is a large mountain range. It sits about 250 meters (820 feet) above the deep canyon of the Llica River. The site is 1,672 meters (5,485 feet) above sea level.
Iskanwaya is close to Aucapata, a small town in the Muñecas Province. This area is on the northern side of the Andes mountains.
What Makes Iskanwaya Special
The people who live near Iskanwaya today consider it a very important and sacred place. It's one of the most significant ancient sites in Bolivia. This is because of its amazing buildings, its unique location, and how it connects different ancient cultures that lived in the valleys of the Andes.
In March 2022, a project began to help protect Iskanwaya's history and bring more visitors to the area. This project aims to restore parts of the site and make it a popular place for tourists.
City Design and Buildings
The city of Iskanwaya was built on two flat areas, covering about 0.6 square kilometers (0.23 square miles). One of the most impressive things about Iskanwaya was its running water system. A network of canals brought fresh water from the Naranjani stream directly to the homes! Archaeologists have also found evidence of water storage areas in the center of the main town square.
More than a hundred large buildings still stand at Iskanwaya. These buildings were made of stone and had many rooms, usually around thirteen each. The streets of the Mollo people, who built Iskanwaya, ran from east to west. Their houses were shaped like rectangles and were built around open courtyards. They used blocks of slate stone held together with mud mortar.
Farming and Population
The people of Iskanwaya were skilled farmers. They used special methods like terracing (creating flat steps on hillsides) and irrigation (directing water to crops) to grow their food.
An archaeologist named Alvaro R. Fernholz Jemio believes that Iskanwaya was once home to a large number of people. He suggests that between 2,500 and 3,000 people lived in this ancient city.
The Mollo Culture
The ruins of Iskanwaya belong to the Mollo culture. This ancient civilization existed before the famous Inca civilization. It is believed that the Mollo people built these structures as early as 800 BC. Their most active period was from about 1145 to 1425 AD.
See also
In Spanish: Iskanwaya para niños
