A boson sampler implements a restricted model of quantum computing. It is defined by the ability to sample from the distribution resulting from the interference of identical bosons propagating ac- cording to programmable, non-interacting dynamics [1]. Here, we demonstrate a new combination of tools for implementing boson sampling using ultracold atoms in a two-dimensional, tunnel-coupled optical lattice. These tools include fast and programmable preparation of large ensembles of nearly identical bosonic atoms (99.5+0.5 −1.6% indistinguishability) by means of rearrangement with optical tweezers and high-fidelity optical cooling, propagation for variable evolution time in the lattice with low loss (5.0(2) %, independent of evolution time), and high fidelity detection of the atom positions after their evolution (typically 99.8(1) %). With this system, we study specific instances of boson sampling involving up to 180 atoms distributed among ∼ 1000 sites in the lattice. Direct verifi- cation of a given boson sampling distribution is not feasible in this regime. Instead, we introduce and perform targeted tests to determine the indistinguishability of the prepared atoms, to char- acterize the applied family of single particle unitaries, and to observe expected bunching features due to interference for a large range of atom numbers. When extended to interacting systems, our work demonstrates the core capabilities required to directly assemble ground and excited states in simulations of various Hubbard models [2, 3].