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Photos: Mythical funerary towers restored in Bolivia

Unique quadrangular pre-Inca towers made of earth and straw, standing up to eight meters tall, dot the landscape at Condor Amaya on the Bolivian altiplano -- giving rise to myths and legends. 11 'chullpas' (funerary tower) were restored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation during a handing over ceremony at the Condor Amaya archaeological site. many beleive that the myths associated with these towers have only added to their valur making them heritage property now.

Updated on: Jun 10, 2019 12:11 PM IST

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View of one of 11 ‘chullpas’ (funerary tower) restored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The chullpas measure between two and eight meters high and two to four meters wide. They all have a small entrance door facing the rising sun in the east which gave rise to myths and legends relating to the sun. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

Updated on Jun 10, 2019 12:11 PM

View of one of 11 ‘chullpas’ (funerary tower) restored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The chullpas measure between two and eight meters high and two to four meters wide. They all have a small entrance door facing the rising sun in the east which gave rise to myths and legends relating to the sun. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

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A story told by a Don Estanislao Colque claims that the pre-Incan towers “lived with the moon” and “walked on the earth” many generations ago. But the earth changed position and the sun stopped rising in the west to be born again sometime later in the east, “burning” all those chullpas facing the other way. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

Updated on Jun 10, 2019 12:11 PM

A story told by a Don Estanislao Colque claims that the pre-Incan towers “lived with the moon” and “walked on the earth” many generations ago. But the earth changed position and the sun stopped rising in the west to be born again sometime later in the east, “burning” all those chullpas facing the other way. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

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The “chullpas” stand almost side by side and have been built with a technique unique to this site in the Bolivian Andes. Greek archeologist Irene Delaveris believes the myth around the funerary towers have added value to the site as mythology is also part of heritage. Other, more rational explanations for the door’s orientation could be wind and rain arriving from the west, said Delaveris. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

Updated on Jun 10, 2019 12:11 PM

The “chullpas” stand almost side by side and have been built with a technique unique to this site in the Bolivian Andes. Greek archeologist Irene Delaveris believes the myth around the funerary towers have added value to the site as mythology is also part of heritage. Other, more rational explanations for the door’s orientation could be wind and rain arriving from the west, said Delaveris. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

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Bolivian Aymara natives attend a handing over ceremony of 11 ‘chullpas’ restored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation at the Condor Amaya archaeological site, in Umala, 130 km south of La Paz. There are 39 chullpas in the area, some in ruins, ravaged by time and the unforgiving climate. In the La Paz department there are around 300 overall, according to the culture ministry. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

Updated on Jun 10, 2019 12:11 PM

Bolivian Aymara natives attend a handing over ceremony of 11 ‘chullpas’ restored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation at the Condor Amaya archaeological site, in Umala, 130 km south of La Paz. There are 39 chullpas in the area, some in ruins, ravaged by time and the unforgiving climate. In the La Paz department there are around 300 overall, according to the culture ministry. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

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Bolivian Aymara natives dance in front of the ‘chullpas’ during a handing over ceremony at the Condor Amaya archaeological site. Chullpas were first built in the 10th and 11th centuries by the Aymara kingdoms following the end of the Tiwanaku culture. The practice continued through the Inca period until the arrival of Spanish conquistadors. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

Updated on Jun 10, 2019 12:11 PM

Bolivian Aymara natives dance in front of the ‘chullpas’ during a handing over ceremony at the Condor Amaya archaeological site. Chullpas were first built in the 10th and 11th centuries by the Aymara kingdoms following the end of the Tiwanaku culture. The practice continued through the Inca period until the arrival of Spanish conquistadors. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

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The ‘chullpas’ were used for the burials of royalty, military officials or wealthy people. Severina Flores, a skilled wool weaver and sheep breeder, remembers that she was scared of the towers when she was young. “Before, when I was ‘wawa’ (a child) we would never approach them because when we did we would fall ill,” said the 29 year old mother of four. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

Updated on Jun 10, 2019 12:11 PM

The ‘chullpas’ were used for the burials of royalty, military officials or wealthy people. Severina Flores, a skilled wool weaver and sheep breeder, remembers that she was scared of the towers when she was young. “Before, when I was ‘wawa’ (a child) we would never approach them because when we did we would fall ill,” said the 29 year old mother of four. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

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The walls appear to be made from a mix of whole straw with mud which generates a material like fabric. However, there is a secret organic ingredient as well, yet to be identified, that could be the collagen in llama bones or a local plant that gave it hardness that has allowed it to be preserved over centuries. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

Updated on Jun 10, 2019 12:11 PM

The walls appear to be made from a mix of whole straw with mud which generates a material like fabric. However, there is a secret organic ingredient as well, yet to be identified, that could be the collagen in llama bones or a local plant that gave it hardness that has allowed it to be preserved over centuries. (Aizar Raldes / AFP)

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