Architecture
Walking around Machu Picchu and down the ancient streets no tour guide needed to explain that Inca architecture was the work of pure genius. Perfectly sculpted rocks fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle, windows aligned with the sun, draining systems and burial chambers all constructed around the challenging landscape.
Yucay limestone, green Sacsayhuaman diorite porphyry, and black andesite were the main choices of rock for Inca building. These rocks that weighed close or more than a ton were quarried by pounding the stone with other rocks. They were then dragged with nothing more than ropes, logs, levers and brutal upper body strength. Once reaching the destination the rocks were then chiseled and cut using stone tools to such precise measurements that mortar wasn't necessary to hold the structure in place (Mark Cartwright, "Inca Architecture"). There was two kinds of stonework that the Inca used. Ashlar is an example of one of these kinds, it consisted of stone cut into rectangles of similar size and stacked to create tall standing walls. In many cases these stones were taller then the Inca people, making it even more impressive. The other kind of stonework was polygonal which used rocks of many different shapes and sizes. They would choose stones that fit best side by side and cut them until you could easily believe they had always been together (Dale Anderson, 42-43). Both types would then be covered in a layer of mud or clay for sealing and then painted in bright colours. The walls at sites like Puka Tampu still have traces of red, black, yellow and white paint (Mark Cartwright, "Inca Architecture"). We saw polygonal walls at a town called Ollantaytambo on one of our tours. This was an Inca archaeological site and royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti. They had cobblestone streets and outlines of buildings with various size stones. Built on top of these were Spanish buildings from when they took over the area. Around the town were also huacas and storehouses which were purposely placed at a higher elevation so the wind would keep food cool. Of course Machu Picchu is by far the most well known example of Inca Architecture. The site located above the sacred valley is filled with almost every element of Inca design including many unique details. We saw sun dials that were worked into the rock to determine the time of day, terraces, roads, fountains, high entrances for celebrations, temples and waterways. In some locations Inca baths can be found where the water channels into a large sunken stone pit used for the relaxation and baths for Inca Kings (Elizabeth Baquedano, 19). Most Inca buildings were rectangular in shape with a thatched roof made of grass or reeds and a single door covered with a piece of cloth. They were single storied and appear tilted slightly inward resembling a trapezoid (Dale Anderson, 42). An essential part of Inca architecture was the placing of buildings, doors and windows. This was so it was aligned and visible for astronomical bodies and certain stars or the sun during the solstices to be seen. Inca architects also blended their structures into the surrounding landscape. Machu Picchu follows the contours of the hillside and uses natural features for many of the buildings (Mark Cartwright, "Inca Architecture"). |