My Eight Wonders (Con’t) Sacsayhuaman & Ollantaytambo

Sacsayhuaman (AKA the Fortress) is located approximately 990 feet above the city of Cusco, Peru (elevation: 11,152 ft). Current accepted theory is that it was constructed by the Inca’s circa 1500 CA. Keep in mind that the Inca civilization only lasted for 98 years (1438 – 1533 CA). The theory is that the massive stones were quarried over ten km away across a valley and a river. They were dragged using brut force to the site (some of the slopes from Cusco to the site exceed 40 degrees!) and are carved to fit together so precisely that not even paper will fit in the joints. No mortar was used.

                                                         I’m not the only person who thinks this theory is bizarre. I have had the opportunity to visit the site on two occasions and have a third trip planned.

The Largest stone is estimated to weigh 300 tons. Some of the stones have over a dozen angles that required precise matching with all of the adjacent stones. Regardless of when this project occurred or who accomplished the feat it is absolutely amazing and one that I doubt we could reproduce even with our current technology. 

The main quarries of Ollantaytambo (see below) were located at Kachiqhata, in a ravine across the Urubamba River some 5 km from the town. The construction and preciseness is identical to that at Sacsayhuaman. How did they transport stones exceeding 50 tons from a site on the mountain across the river?