El Fuerte de Samaipata

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Fuerte de Samaipata
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
View of the sculptured rock
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iii
Reference	883
UNESCO region	Latin America and the Caribbean
Inscription history
Inscription	1998 (22nd Session)
Location of El Fuerte de Samaipata in Bolivia.

El Fuerte de Samaipata (Fort Samaipata), also known simply as "El Fuerte", is an archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Santa Cruz Department, Florida Province, Bolivia. It is situated in the eastern foothills of the Bolivian Andes and is a popular tourist destination for Bolivians and foreigners alike. It is served by the nearby town of Samaipata.

It is not actually a military fortification, but it is generally considered a pre-Columbian religious site, built by the Chané people, a pre-Inca culture of Arawak origin. There are also ruins of an Inca city built near the temple; the city was built during the Inca expansion to the southeast. Both Incas and Chanes suffered several raids from Guarani warriors who invaded the region from time to time. Eventually, the Guarani warriors conquered the plains and valleys of Santa Cruz and destroyed Samaipata. The Guaranis dominated the region well into the Spanish colonial period.

The Spaniards also built a settlement near the temple, and there are remains of buildings of typical Arab Andalusian architecture. The Spaniards abandoned the settlement and moved to the nearby valley, where the town of Samaipata is currently located.

The archeological site at El Fuerte is unique, and it encompasses buildings of three different cultures: Chanés, Incas, and Spaniards.

El Cascabel

The most important feature of El Fuerte seems to be El Cascabel. El Cascabel can be translated as 'The Rattle'. Two parallel lines point to certain points in the eastern sky at a position of azimuth 71° and an altitude of about 6.75° . One could have looked along the parallel lines, standing on the place of observation in front of the Inca-wall at the foot of El Fuerte and watched the parallel rising of two planets at sunrise on August 20, 1066 above both lines against the background of constellation Leo: Venus and Jupiter. Some archaeologists contend that unusual carvings on the rocks may be from a pre-Inca civilization on this Amazonian slope who were commemorating the flyover of Halley's Comet in March 1066.

Protection

Due to damage caused by visitors walking on the symbols cut into the rock and by erosion caused by waterfall, the inner area is cordoned off to prevent more damage. However most of it can still be viewed. Access to the site is easy, many operators run buses from nearby Samaipata. There is a small entrance charge. The site is under the care of Stonewatch, which is a non profit society and academy for conservation and documentation of rock art.

Gallery

• Elfuerte1.jpg

  General view of the El Fuerte temple.

• Elfuerte2.jpg

  Sloping parallel slots cut in the rock. The Incas used the top of the rock for human and animal sacrifices. Blood ran through one slot and water trickled down the other.

• Elfuerte3.jpg

  Niches cut in the rock. This is where the Incas kept mummies.

• Elfuerte4.jpg

  Circular rock carving. (Approx. 1 metre diameter.) There are several of these, some badly worn due to tourist traffic. The Incas believed that the puma engraved on the rock represented the priesthood or the power of God.

• JscFuerteSamaipata2.jpg

  Lateral view

External links

• StoneWatch - society and academy for conservation and documentation of rock art
• Official UNESCO World Heritage Site webpage
• Site with some pictures and information