Valley of the spirits

By Alan L. Kolata

Book Description

In the remote highlands of the Andes, where ancient stones whisper secrets across centuries, archaeologist Alan Kolata unveils the profound spiritual legacy of a forgotten civilization. Drawing from seventeen years of meticulous research, Valley of the Spirits reveals how the Aymara people created one of the Americas' first great empires, flourishing for nearly a millennium before the rise of the Incas.

At the heart of this exploration lies Tiahuanaco, a magnificent capital that served as the spiritual epicenter of the Andean world from 400 to 1100 A.D. Here, golden temples and monumental stone sculptures created an atmosphere so sacred that the Aymara believed their creator god Viracocha breathed life into humanity from the very springs and rocks of this hallowed landscape.

Kolata masterfully decodes the mysteries embedded in these ancient monuments, from the towering Akapana pyramid that symbolizes sacred mountains and earthly abundance, to the breathtaking Gateway of the Sun, considered among the finest artistic achievements of pre-Columbian America. Yet this journey transcends archaeology, revealing how contemporary Aymara shamans continue to commune with ancestral spirits through timeless rituals of remembrance.

For modern seekers, this work offers a rare window into a living spiritual tradition where past and present converge, demonstrating how ancient wisdom continues to guide those who honor the sacred relationship between humanity, earth, and sky.