The Suñawa Monolith and a Genre of Extended-Arm Sculptures at Tiwanaku, Bolivia

A new classification of Tiwanaku monolithic sculptures reveals that the Suñawa Monolith, alongside its likely companion the Pachakama, represents a distinct genre of 'extended-arm monoliths' that served as guardians or attendants to the more studied 'presentation monoliths.' Unlike the latter, which depict figures holding symbolic objects like chicha goblets and snuff tablets, the Suñawa Monolith embodies themes of sacrificial violence and vegetative generation. This study challenges the conventional focus on presentation monoliths by arguing that Tiwanaku's monumental sculptures formed a complex 'society' of differentiated, interactive beings. The research employs iconographic analysis to recontextualize these sculptures within their broader cultural and ritual significance.

Guengerich, A., & Janusek, J. W. (2020). The Suñawa Monolith and a Genre of Extended-Arm Sculptures at Tiwanaku, Bolivia. Ñawpa Pacha, 41(1), 19–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/00776297.2020.1830974