Sajama Lines Secondary
Sajama Lines Secondary Network · Sajama Geoglyphs annex
Formative to Late Horizon 100–1532 CE (Inca road overlay) Sajama unknown chronology·High Altiplano pastoral (Sajama culture, pre-Inca to Inca)·🇧🇴 Oruro Department, Sajama Province, Bolivia
About
About Sajama Lines Secondary
Secondary network of Sajama Lines — largest geoglyph on Earth (16,000 km total): radial straight lines 2 m wide scraped to light soil converging on raised chullpa-shrine islands, visible only from Sajama volcano foothills (4100–4500 m). Secondary annex comprises 70 km lines with cairn shrines (apachetas) at intersections. Attributed to Carangas Aymara pastoral ayllus, possible Inca road overlay.
Why it mattersPart of largest archaeological geoglyph in Americas revealing Altiplano pastoral ideology at 4100 m before Inca roads.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01How radial lines were surveyed straight over 20 km puna with 4000 m altitude
- 02Whether Sajama lines predate Inca roads or were co-opted
Theories
- 01Ayllu pilgrimage lines to Sajama apu volcano shrine
- 02Pastoral transhumance boundary markers between Carangas ayllus
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.100–1500 CE (Intermediaries: unknown, likely Late Formative to Inca)
- Period
- Formative to Late Horizon 100–1532 CE (Inca road overlay) Sajama unknown chronology
- Culture
- High Altiplano pastoral (Sajama culture, pre-Inca to Inca)
- Builders
- High Altiplano pastoral
- Purpose
- Secondary 70 km radial line network converging on family chullpa-shrine, pilgrimage and ayllu boundary marker on high Altiplano puna
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.100–1500 CE (Intermediaries: unknown, likely Late Formative to Inca)
Initial construction
1532 CE (Inca road overlay) Sajama unknown chronology
Major occupation / refurbishment
On the ground
Structures & features
18.0820° S · 68.9550° W · 4100 m · 2 mapped features
Radial line convergence shrine
shrineChullpa-shrine island where 12 radial lines converge at 4100 m puna
18.0810° S · 68.9540° WApacheta cairn intersection
cairnStone apacheta cairn at 90° line intersection on secondary network
18.0830° S · 68.9560° W