Pyramid's makeover a UN heritage 'disaster'
An ancient South American pyramid may lose its status as a UN World Heritage Site and even collapse after it was spruced up to make it more attractive to tourists.
The makeover of the 59ft Akapana pyramid in Bolivia was described by an expert as archaeologically disastrous.
The structure was rebuilt with adobe -- a mixture of sand, clay, water and sticks or straw -- instead of stone. Now the weight of the adobe is making the lower decks of the edifice tilt and could even cause it to collapse, according to the archaeologist in charge of excavations.
Jose Luis Paz, appointed to assess damage to the site, said the state National Archaeology Union was hired by the local town of Tiwanaku to make the pyramid look more like a pyramid instead of a large hill.
Mr Paz said the town wanted the pyramid to be "more attractive to tourists". (© Daily Telegraph, London)
Irish Independent
