Inka Dry Ashlar Masonry, a Deliberate Seismic-Proof Architecture? Reassessment through an Archaeoseismological Approach in the Cuzco Area, Peru

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

For decades now, various scholars have assumed that the Inkas developed seismic-resistant construction techniques. While it is true that some architectural features are particularly well suited to face the seismic risk, no structural evidence can demonstrate with confidence the intentionality of the earthquake resistance.

As part of our research, we discuss and evaluate the Inkas' risk perception and management through an archaeoseismological-pioneering approach. Based on a field-tested methodology, our detailed survey intends to register architectural disorders caused by earthquakes on precolumbian sites of the Cuzco and Sacred Valley.

Crossed by numerous active faults, the Cusco region is subject to a strong seismic hazard. The dense human occupation for over 3,000 years makes thus archaeological remains valuable markers for paleo-seismicity characterization. Combined with other evidence of past seismic activity (fault trenching, lake coring, and ethnohistorical sources) we aim to date prehistorical earthquakes and assess their induced social effects.

In a similar manner to the 1650 and 1950 earthquakes that devastated the Cuzco city, our first results suggest the occurrence of an important seismic event during the Late Horizon (AD 1400–1533). By evidencing new paleo-events, our investigation is shedding a new light on the complex relation between Inkas and earthquakes.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• SAA 2021: General Sessions

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 32289