Editing Tiwanaku (section)

===Kalasasaya===
{{Main|Kalasasaya}}
The [[Kalasasaya]] is a large courtyard more than 300 feet long, outlined by a high gateway. It is located to the north of the Akapana and west of the Semi-Subterranean Temple. Within the courtyard is where explorers found the Gateway of the Sun. Since the late 20th century, researchers have theorized that this was not the gateway's original location.

Near the courtyard is the Semi-Subterranean Temple; a square sunken courtyard that is unique for its north-south rather than east-west axis.<ref name="Goldstein, Paul 1993">{{cite book |title=Tiwanaku Temples and State Expansion: A Tiwanaku Sunken-Court Temple in Moquegua, Peru |author=Goldstein, Paul |year=1993}}</ref> The walls are covered with tenon heads of many different styles, suggesting that the structure was reused for different purposes over time.<ref name="Brownman1981a"/> It was built with walls of sandstone pillars and smaller blocks of Ashlar masonry.<ref name="Brownman1981a">Browman, D. L., 1981, "New light on Andean Tiwanaku," ''New Scientist'' vol. 69, no. 4, pp. 408–419.</ref><ref>Coe, Michael, Dean Snow, and Elizabeth Benson, 1986, ''Atlas of Ancient America'' p. 190</ref> The largest stone block in the Kalasasaya is estimated to weigh 26.95 metric tons.<ref name="Sangines1970"/>

Within many of the site's structures are impressive gateways; the ones of monumental scale are placed on artificial mounds, platforms, or sunken courts. One gateway shows the iconography of a front-facing figure in [[Staff God]] pose. This iconography also is used on some oversized vessels, indicating an importance to the culture. The iconography of the Gateway of the Sun called ''Southern Andean Iconographic Series'' can be seen on several stone sculptures, [[Qiru]]s, [[snuff tray]]s and other Tiwanaku artifacts.<ref>Silverman, Helaine ''Andean Archaeology'' Volume 2. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004</ref>

The unique carvings on the top of the Gate of the sun depict animals and other beings. Some have claimed that the symbolism represents a calendar system unique to the people of Tiwanaku, although there is no definitive evidence that this theory is correct. 

The Gateway of the Sun and others located at Pumapunku are not complete. They are missing part of a typical recessed frame known as a [[chambranle]], which typically have sockets for clamps to support later additions. These architectural examples, as well as the Akapana Gate, have unique detail and demonstrate high skill in stone-cutting. This reveals a knowledge of [[descriptive geometry]]. The regularity of elements suggests they are part of a system of proportions.

[[File:Tiwanaku - Puerta de la Luna - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Gate of the Moon.]]