Bolivia copacobanaArticle: (2008. Reuters):

Archeologists have begun digging at an ancient ceremonial site in eastern Bolivia to piece together the rites and daily life of cultures dating as far back as 3,000 years ago.

'Locals stumbled upon the remains while clearing the ground to build a new market in the picturesque town of Copacabana, a tourist hotspot on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Many of the unearthed tombs, textiles, clay pots and jewellery belonged to the well-documented Tiahuanaco and Inca cultures that populated the area hundreds of years ago.

But some relics go back as far as 3,000 years, when a little-known religious tradition called Yayamama is thought to have flourished in the Andes. "They carved sculptures [in stone] with a man on one side and a woman on the other," said archaeologist Sergio Chavez, who works for Central Michigan University.

The sculptures, which also feature two-headed snakes and geometric shapes, are still revered by local indigenous groups.The Yayamama built a series of small temples by the lake, each two hours by foot from the other, Chavez told Reuters. (1).