South America has more than one archaeological mystery. One of these mysteries, which, by the way, scientists cannot explain until today, is the fort of Fuerte de Samaipata. It is also called El Fuerte (Centro El Fuerte de Samaipata), which is Spanish for "fortress". The archaeological site is located in the province of Florida, in the Santa Cruz department in Bolivia.
The complex consists of two components: the first part is a hill with various numerous images, and the second is a vast territory, which used to be an administrative, political and residential center.
Scientists believe that this complex was originally a pre-Columbian religious site that the Chane people built. In addition, the ruins of Inca buildings were also found here. Periodically, the Guaraní warriors raided the Inca settlements and the chan, who conquered the Santa Cruz valley.
The Spaniards built their settlements not far from the temple complex. Later they moved to the neighboring valley where the city of Samaipata is located.
The archaeological site includes three cultures: the Incas, Chane and the Spanish. The buildings located in the area are surrounded by perimeter walls in the form of kancha, which is typical of the Incas. At the lowest site there is a huge building - Kallanka, which most likely served as the main administrative and religious center.
It is quite difficult to climb the highest point of the El Fuerte hill. After the rains, huge puddles form here, heat, stuffiness, mosquitoes, only add to the unsightly picture. Plus the area is full of snakes. Therefore, the locals are trying to bypass this place.
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The very top of the "fortress" is presented in the form of a regular pyramid. Two absolutely straight troughs are laid along it and pointing to certain points in the sky: an altitude of about 6.75 °, an azimuth of 71 °. Between these lines, as well as along their edges, there are zigzag lines with rhombuses. At the highest point of the mountain is a rounded platform with carved rectangles and triangles.
Scientists speculate that this thread was dedicated to the flight of Halley's comet (March 1066) and was left behind by the pre-Incan civilization. However, some scientists believe that this is a man-made launching pad for a flying object.
The legend about the creation of the site is also connected with the top of Mount El Fuerte. It is believed that the site was built to bring the gods back to earth. It is assumed that the Indians built a replica of the aircraft and opened it with gold alloy. During the holidays, the apparatus was lifted into the sky, thus welcoming the gods. "Sons of the Sun" - so the rulers of the Incas called themselves. They, like the pharaohs of Egypt, believed that the gods descended from heaven. In Colombia, as in Egypt, archaeologists have found copies of flying devices, which are several millennia old.
Most of the complex is accessible to tourists. Due to the erosion caused by the rains, as well as damage caused by tourists carving letters and symbols on the stones, part of the archaeological complex is protected and fenced off from visitors.
The Fuerte de Samaipata artifact is a UNESCO heritage site and protected by the non-profit organization Stonewatch.
It was believed that the El Fuerte fortress was the only structure. But it turns out that the monument has a double - "the source of the washing of the feet" and the Valley of the Statues in the National Archaeological Park of San Agustin.