The Kolla may have originated in Bolivia's Titicaca lake in times of Tiwanaku empire final days. By then, twelve independent, aymara-speaking chiefdoms were clashing against each other. Occupants of an extense territory by the northeast and southwest lake shores, the Kolla chiefdom was salient. It was composed by two main ethnic groups: the Kolla, who controlled the political power, and the Puquina, who belonged to the older population in the area.
The Inca Wiracocha or Pachacuti, in the XVth century, invaded the Kolla chiefdom. A great Kolla people rebellion was defeated by the Inca Tupac Yupanqui, who recruited the rebels as front line fighters in the conquest of other territories. Important numbers of kollas were moved into closer or distant territories as encomendados, or forced laborers. Such is the case of the Argentinean northeast's Kollas, who were recruited for the mine work. Contemporary Kolla people recognize themselves as their descendants.