Tiwanaku became a center of pre-Columbian religious ceremonies for both the general public and elites. For example, human sacrifice was used in several pre-Columbian civilizations to appease a god in exchange for good fortune. Excavations of the Akapana at Tiwanaku revealed the remains of sacrificial dedications of humans and camelids. Researchers speculate that the Akapana may also have been used as an astronomical observatory. It was constructed so that it was aligned with the peak of Quimsachata, providing a view of the rotation of the Milky Way from the southern pole. Other structures like Kalasasaya are positioned to provide optimal views of the sunrise on the Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Winter Solstice. Although the symbolic and functional value of these monuments can only be speculated upon, the Tiwanaku were able to study and interpret the positions of the sun, moon, Milky Way and other celestial bodies well enough to give them a significant role in their architecture.
tiwanaku became a center of pre-columbian religious ceremonies for both the general public and elites for example human sacrifice was used in several pre-columbian civilizations to appease a god in exchange for good fortune excavations of the akapana at tiwanaku revealed the remains of sacrificial dedications of humans and camelids researchers speculate that the akapana may also have been used as an astronomical observatory it was constructed so that it was aligned with the peak of quims:achata providing a view of the rotation of the milky way from the southern pole other structures like kalasasaya are positioned to provide optimal views of the sunrise on the equinox summer sol,stice and winter solstice altho:ugh the symbolic and functional value of these monuments can only be speculated upon the tiwanaku were able to study and interpret the positions of the sun moon milky way and other celestial bodies well enough to give them a significant role in their architecture