History of this heritage site goes beyond 16^th c A.D., and story of its people is linked with dwellers of Patasani and with ‘Patasani’and ‘patasahani’ title(also refers to Pothali). Though anciently, they identified themselves with the history of Potali,

Historians relates the history of mining in the Americas with the Cerro de Potosi, the ‘Imperial City’ whose ensemble provides material truth for its people’s past. Cerro de Potosí also called Cerro Rico, or the Rich Mountain, or Sumaj Orcko, holds the vivid memory of the primordial mountain Sumeru same as Mt Imaos or Meru. Cerro refers to ‘Kullya’, and Andes to Andhaka country which has various other name-forms. In the central region of Andes lives the memory of the native Indian influences whose poor native zones are separated by artificial rivers, anciently known as ‘kullya’.

According to Unesco,  ‘The industrial infrastructure comprised 22 lagunas or reservoirs, from which a forced flow of water produced the hydraulic power to activate the 140 ingeniosor mills to grind silver ore. The ground ore was then amalgamated with mercury in refractory earthen kilns called huayras or guayras. It was then moulded into bars and stamped with the mark of the Royal Mint. From the mine to the Royal Mint (reconstructed in 1759), the whole production chain is conserved, along with the dams, aqueducts, milling centres and kilns….By the 17th century there were 160,000 colonists living in Potosí along with 13,500 Indians who were forced to work in the mines under the system of mita (or the mitayos, mandatory labour). ….. Other evidence includes the superb monuments of the colonial city, among them 22 parish or monastic churches, the imposing Compañía de Jesús (Society of Jesus) tower and the Cathedral. The Casa de la Moneda (Royal Mint), reconstructed in 1759, as well as a number of patrician homes, whose luxury contrasted with the bareness of the rancherias of the native quarter, also remain’.

Church of San Lorenz—seat of worship of goddess Luz near Campa

lagunas or reservoirs—Lagna means the ‘source’,

ingenious or mills to grind silver ore—Igenias or the Agni people

rancherias of the native quarter—Incheriyas/ Cheras, Sea People

Earthen kilns called huayras or guayras—Haiyas/Haris/ and Gaury or Urias

mita (or the mitayos, mandatory labour)—mita means ‘friends’/Matiapada

Compañía de Jesús (Society of Jesus)—refers to Campa and Kampilya

The Casa de la Moneda (Royal Mint)—Moneda or ‘munida’ means ‘leader’