Abstract
The pre-Columbian World Heritage site of Tiwanaku (AD 600–1100) located in highland altiplano Bolivia is shown to have a unique urban water supply system with many advanced hydraulic and hydrological features. By use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of the city water system, new revelations as to the complexity of the water system are brought forward. The water system consists of a perimeter drainage channel surrounding the ceremonial center of the city. A network of surface canals and subterranean channels connected to the perimeter drainage channel are supplied by multiple canals from a rainfall collection reservoir. The perimeter drainage channel provides rapid draining of rainy season rainfall runoff together with aquifer drainage of intercepted rainfall; water collected in the perimeter drainage channel is then directed to the Tiwanaku River then on to Lake Titicaca. During the dry season aquifer drainage continues into the perimeter drainage channel; additional water is directed into the drainage channel from a recently discovered, reservoir connected M channel. Two subterranean channels beneath the ceremonial center were supplied by M channel water delivered into the perimeter drainage channel that served to remove waste from the ceremonial center structures conveyed to the nearby Tiwanaku River. From control of the water supply to/from the perimeter drainage channel during wet and dry seasonal changes, stabilization of the deep groundwater level was achieved—this resulted in the stabilization of monumental ceremonial structure’s foundations, a continuous water supply to inner city agricultural zones, water pools for urban use and health benefits for the city population through moisture level reduction in city ceremonial and secular urban housing structures.
Highlights
A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of the Tiwanaku urban center showing the network of surface and subterranean canals and channels, the sub-ground surface aquifer and surface drainage channels shows the components of the complete water supply and distribution system of the Tiwanaku urban center
The pre-Columbian AD 300–1100 city of Tiwanaku located in the high altiplano (~4000 m.a.s.l) region of Bolivia demonstrated use of advanced hydraulic/hydrologic principles to maintain city drainage during the long rainy season through a complex network of surface and subterranean channels coupled into a main perimeter drainage channel
The deep groundwater level was stabilized by runoff and aquifer drainage into the perimeter drainage channel
Summary
Archaeological studies of ancient pre-Columbian Peru and Bolivia have not far brought forward the technical engineering achievements at major archaeological sites in those countries. A CFD model (shown as Figure 1a) of the Tiwanaku urban center showing the network of surface and subterranean canals and channels, the sub-ground surface aquifer and surface drainage channels shows the components of the complete water supply and distribution system of the Tiwanaku urban center. Since these networked water transfer features interact with each other to transfer surface and groundwater in different ways during the rainy and dry seasons, the water flow transfers through these interacting features is computed using CFD methodology to show the water engineering put into practice by Tiwanaku water engineers’ design and construction of their urban water system. Karaña leading water to subterranean channels P and Q. (e) Slab-covered channel originating from the top platform of the Akapana and running at high slope down the side of the Akapana pyramid to drain the room complex located on the top platform
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