The Tiwanaku civilization, centred on Lake Titicaca, was of pre-eminent importance in the Andean region, from approximately 500-1100, yet has attracted considerably less attention, both popular and scholarly, than the Incas who came to replace them. Archaeology has only started to focus on the Tiwanaku in a major way in the last twenty or so years; this excellent study surveys and synthesises that research. It looks at the relationship between humans and landscape in the High Andes, examines the emergence of Tinawaku as a socially complex and highly diverse civilization, includes a detailed investigation of the archaeology of the city of Tinawaku, traces the relationship between Tinawaku and neighbouring civilizations, particularly the Wari, and finally charts the collapse of the empire. Challenging yet accessible to the non-specialist, there are plenty of thought provoking conclusions with wider applications for the study of high altitude cultures.