El Fuerte de Samaipata
View of the sculptured rock at El Fuerte | |
| Location | Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia |
|---|---|
| Region | Andes |
| Coordinates | 18°10′42.08″S 63°49′8.36″W / 18.1783556°S 63.8189889°W |
| History | |
| Founded | 300 CE |
| Cultures | Chané, Incan, Spanish |
| Official name | Fuerte de Samaipata |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii |
| Designated | 1998 (22nd session) |
| Reference no. | 883 |
| Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
El Fuerte de Samaipata or Fort Samaipata, also known simply as "El Fuerte", is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Florida Province, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. It is situated in the eastern foothills of the Bolivian Andes and is a popular tourist destination for Bolivians and foreigners alike. It is served by the nearby town of Samaipata. The archaeological site at El Fuerte is unique as it encompasses buildings of three different cultures: Chanè, Inca, and Spanish.
Although called a fort, Samaipata had also a religious, ceremonial, and residential function. Its construction was probably begun by the Chané, a pre-Inca people of Arawak origin. There are also ruins of an Inca plaza and residences, dating from the late 15th and early 16th centuries as the Inca Empire expanded eastward from the Andes highlands into the sub-tropical foothills. Chané, Inca, and Spanish all suffered raids from Ava Guaraní (Chiriguano) warriors who also settled in the region. The Ava Guaraní conquered the plains and valleys of Santa Cruz and occupied the Samaipata area. The Ava Guaraní dominated the region well into the Spanish colonial period.
The Spaniards built a settlement at Samaipata fort, and there are remains of buildings of typical Arab Andalusian architecture. The Spaniards soon abandoned the fort and moved to a nearby valley, establishing the town of Samaipata in 1618.