Researchers have noted precisely-fitted stone insertions between massive blocks at several megalithic sites, including Cusco, Ahu Vinapu (Easter Island), and Egypt's Osirion at Abydos. Pumapunku, part of the Tiwanaku archaeological complex in Bolivia, presents significant construction puzzles. The site features sandstone and andesite blocks of considerable size. Questions remain about the specific construction methods, including how such massive stones were transported and fitted without modern machinery.
Key facts claimed:
- Pumapunku is dated by the mainstream archaeological consensus to the period around 536-600 CE, built by the Tiwanaku civilization using stone hammers, ropes, and primitive tools
- Sandstone blocks at Pumapunku weigh up to 130-180 tons each; the site lies above the tree line where no timber is available for rollers or sledges
- Some researchers argue advanced cutting methods may have been used, though this remains debated in archaeological literature