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Remarkable Architectural and Engineering achievements in Machu Picchu, Peru; in commemoration of 100 years of its scientific discovery |
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Paul Duclos, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Peru Rediscovering Machu Picchu to the world In 1548, few years later of the arrival of the Spaniards to the Tahuantinsuyo (an Empire of 19,000 kms. that included the current territories of Peru, Ecuador, Southern Colombia, Bolivia, northern Argentina and Chile), many “huacas” (sacred places) and cities were completely abandoned and destroyed as a result of the Spaniard conquest and crusade to abolish idolatry. However, some colonial documents still recorded the name of some buildings located in a center called Picchu, city built by Inca Pachakuti, the greatest conqueror of the Inca civilization. It was around the time that Spaniards took the last Inca stronghold against Spanish rule in Vilcabamba. The population fled and the villages in the area were also abandoned. Myths about Vilcabamba started around the eighteen century. According to the legend, the Incas buried their richest treasures in these areas in order to keep them away from the Spanish looting. During the nineteenth century, several Peruvians and foreign explorers, travelers, and huaqueros (“treasures hunters”) explored the area in search of the lost city. In 1908, the American archeologist Hiram Bingham arrived to Santiago, Chile, chairing an American delegation to the first Pan American Scientific Congress. Later, he decided to visit the city of Cusco where he came across local residents who encouraged him to join an expedition to “Choquequirau”, city believing that it was Vilcabamba, with the purpose of finding buried treasures. Bingham came to the conclusion that it was not Vilcabamba and decided to organize another expedition to find this last capital of the Incas.
Unique location
Machu Picchu is located in the district of Machupicchu, in the Urubamba province, 112.5 kms. by railway from the city of Cusco. It is situated in the highlands of the left margin of the river Urubamba in subtropical weather conditions surrounded by magnificent biodiversity in flora and fauna. Its construction is attributed to Pachakuti Inca Yupanqui between 1438 and 1471. The Inca civilization represents the final and most impressive stage of a millenary Peruvian cultural evolution initiated with the city of Caral (3,000 bc), north of Lima, and continued for centuries by several civilizations in coast, mountain and rainforest locations such as Chavin, Mochica, Nazca, Paracas, Wari, Tiahuanaco, Chimu and Chachapoyas, among others. Architecture as representation of a symbolic universe As a first impression, the chosen place to edify Machu Picchu, at the top of a rough mountain, almost inaccessible, represents an improbable task from architectural and engineering perspectives. The city was built over a great quarry of granite site where they took the stone to sculpt the lithic pieces in their different manifestations. Machu Picchu’s location was meticulously selected as a perfect representation of the cosmogony of the Andean world and beliefs, being perfect fulfilling the liturgical, ceremonial, magical and religious functions. It is a perfect enclave to be in a physically communion with all the main Inca sacred elements as the “Apus” (mountains), tutelary gods, embraced by the Urubamba river; as a center of application of astronomical principles in close connection with the sun and moon and other natural forces, while the presence or absence of light and shadow in different time of the year; next to a fresh and vital water spring and over the mother earth “Pachamama”. Not only this, in the center of the city, at the highest position, there is a sacred pillar, the “Intihuatana or solar clock”, that is perfectly alienated with four mountain gods that correspond to the highest ones in each one of the cardinal directions. In sum, a magical scenario of the Inca cosmogony in order to reach a perfect symbiosis of men, nature and biodiversity and the most exceptional place to relax and meditation for the Inca and his high novelty. Under the architectural perspective, it is amazing the territorial order and urban design reached in such an irregular and difficult place keeping an original and unique style. The city planning is appreciated in the optimal distribution of spaces, urban infrastructure, the bulk of the buildings and its incredible insertion into the natural surroundings. All these characteristics configure a monument of exceptional beauty. The design of its streets and constructions keep an almost perfect symmetry showing a refined knowledge of the science of physics. This is shown in the different levels of intermixed platforms, contention walls and stairs; the pyramidal projection of their roofs; the inclination of the walls in order to fit into the surrounding and other elements that let differentiate the urban zone from the agricultural one. In the high urban sector (“Hanan”) destined to the Inca, novelty and priests, is where the most relevant functions and ceremonies are performed There, it is possible to find the most important structures such as the main temple, the three windows temple, the high tower, the royal mausoleum, ornamental fountains, the royal residence and the “Intihuatana”. The characteristics of these buildings are architectonically similar to the main constructions of the Cusco capital such as the Korikancha Temple and its main streets. Also, similar tools have also been founded for the extraction, carving and polishing of the stones including levers and hammers of great hardness in order to get great rock blocks that could reach a weight of 2,700 kilograms. In the lower urban zone (“Hurin”), another kind of structures can be found such as the Condor Temple, the Three Doors Group and places for personnel in charge of the service of the Hanan sector inhabitants. In the central part, the main square full of corridors and stairways is located that communicates both spaces. This architectural division reflects the general patterns of order, authority and stratification of the Inca civilization, aspects that regulate every aspect of the social life under the principles of opposition, repetition and subordination but unified in the architectural design and orientation of the venues, that take advantage of the climatic conditions and resources such as solar energy, vegetation, rain, winds and other factors in order to help them to mitigate the nature impacts.
Engineering wonder With the engineering perspective, Machu Picchu is highly remarkable and impressive. Not only because of the technology levels reached in the utilization of huge stone blocks to convert them into magnificent entrances and doors, windows, roof design and trapezoidal “hornacinas” (internal holes) located in several enclosures, but also with the perfect knowledge of the geologic aspects of the zone in order to guarantee the preservation and perdurability of the place, including its location over a granite quarry and the highly advanced draining system composed by the bulwark of terraces.
This complex system of terraces was the Inca’s response to the protection of the buildings from natural erosion, particularly to confront the torrential rains of the place that may cause landslides and the city falling away. This situation has been avoided thanks to the sophisticated system of drainage that is based on the elaboration of several terraces all over the mountain, each one composed by three layers (rich topsoil, sandy dirt and gravel and large stones) that let them act as filtering galleries that conduct the water to the ground. It is, also, remarkable the levels reached in hydraulic engineering not only to provide water provision to the habitants of the city but to carry it away safely. The constructors knew perfectly the locations of fresh water springs useful for human consumption and the most optimum and shortest direction. Stone channels were built for that purpose and to let water to reach a complex system of fountains in the royal residences. For the water evacuation, it was necessary to build a drainage system of 2.7 mts. in the entire complex, under the surface. The underground works represented between the 50 and 60% of the construction efforts including doing foundations and site preparation that has let Machu Picchu stay in place for more than 500 years. In the same way, the Inca development in vial engineering let the configuration of a very well access road to Machu Picchu, as a part of a very well developed network known as the “Qhapaq Ñan”, covering around 23,000 kms., and that is expected to be included in the UNESCO heritage list. This road to Machu Picchu is 45 kms. and reflects the deep topographic knowledge of the place including the construction of tunnels, bridges, stairs, places to rest, etc. This route is known as the “Inca Trail” which is transited by hundreds of tourists every year in a three-four days itinerary. A final point According to the writings of the first Spaniards writers and especially the texts of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (the son of a Spaniard Captain and an Inca Princess), the streets and buildings of Qosqo (the capital of Tahuantinsuyo) were covered by thick plates made of pure gold and some others of silver. Neither the gold, nor the silver had in the Inca’s Civilization an economic value but a religious and spiritual meaning and symbolism: the Sun’s drops of perspiration performing his duties and the Moon’s tears in her sorrows for giving birth to new stars each night
The architecture and engineering in that sense responded to this conception and the edifications are the real manifestation of the Inca’s cosmovision. Machu Picchu is a sacred city of stone but at the same time, it is the perfect representation of the deep immaterial conception of the “Andean Sacred Space Time”, or its particular order of the universe. Everything has a reason to be and is understood unconsciously because it represents the very own essence and vision of every resident. And in this endeavor, the urban design and planning criteria utilized continue being a source of admiration and recognition even under modern architectural parameters. [1] Mitrani, Henry, Machu Picchu 100 years, 2011 [1] National Geographic, Machu Picchu Decoded, 2009 [1] Puelles, Jesús, Machupijchu, Arquitectura e Ingenieria Inca, Lima, Peru, 2010 [1] Puelles, op.cit [1] National Geographic, op.cit [1] Yrigoyen, Carlos, Machu Picchu “The Old Peak”, 2008
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Remarkable Architectural and Engineering achievements in Machu Picchu, Peru; in commemoration of 100 years of its scientific discovery .jpg)
Upon returning to America, great efforts were undertaken to get support to organize a scientific expedition that started in June 1911 with the assistance of Dr. Alberto Giesecke, Dean of the University of San Antonio Abad in Cusco. On July 24, they climbed Machu Picchu and found this fabulous city. Bingham thought that he had found Vilcabamba but he had actually found one of today’s Seven Wonders of the World. In 1913, National Geographic Magazine dedicated the entire issue to Machu Picchu showing the results of Bingham’s expedition.
The agricultural zone is situated before the urban one, composed mainly by “andenes” (terraces) that will perform a double function as farming platforms but also as the main wall of contention of the city..jpg)
In the same vision, Machu Picchu encompasses mainly religious and social purposes. It was a hidden city and a monument to the real power of the spirit; the earth and wind; the clouds, rivers and the mountains; to the human aspirations carved in permanent rock.
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