Hidden in the altiplano, or highlands, of western Bolivia is an extraordinary archaeological phenomenon. Aerial photographs reveal thousands-possibly tens of thousands-of lines between one and three meters wide and up to twenty kilometers long etched into the landscape. Rough estimates put the linear length at 16,000 kilometers, roughly three times the breadth of the United States. Interspersed among this vast network are various shrines, churches, ancient burial towers, and hilltop fortresses, making this area a truly unique cultural landscape.

Who built these lines, and why? Scholars have explored this expansive network of lines and cultural features, but its true meaning and magnitude remain a mystery.

It is the hope of students at the University of Pennsylvania that their work will inspire others to explore this cultural landscape virtually or on foot in the shadow of Mt. Sajama, and show the importance of protecting this extraordinary example of human achievement and expression.

| introduction | context | hypotheses | proposal | process | resources |