At
the end of the paved road that runs from Cusco to the Sacred Valley
of the Incas is the imposing fortress of Ollantaytambo. It gives
a good approximation of what the Inca town must have looked like
five centuries ago. We climbed over 300 steps to the top of the
fortress to the temple area. We could see graineries built into
the mountain where the Incas stored their grain, fruits and potatoes.
The
Incas were masterful craftsmen. The huge rock walls were made without
mortar, each piece perfectly fitted onto the adjoining pieces. The
rocks were somehow transported from mountain quarries over 5 miles
away and hand chiseled to the right shape and size. Some
pieces even had projections that allowed the stones to interlock
with another. It is speculated that the rocks were moved into place
by "rolling" them over smaller stones by hundreds of people.
For additional photos of these ruins, please click on Ollantaytambo
Photo Gallery.
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