Octavia Hansen

Machu Picchu Theory 2011



Posted: Thursday, August 18, 2011

by Octavia Hansen
Octavia Hansen

Gazing down upon the remains of Machu Picchu, archeologists still have many questions. Built of stone, most structures are still definitively outlined; walkways, though five hundred years old, still bear tourist traffic in ever increasing numbers. Hidden on a mountain top, a clear view is obtained from another mountain top, and seeing yet other mountain tops, it has presented a new theory. This was a civilization without the wheel, children's toys were the extent of their knowledge and use, meaning they understood it's work but found it impractical for the mountains. Moving anything meant a lot of manpower and in a thin atmosphere of over seven thousand feet.

My theory, not to belittle all the grand designs that have come before, is that the mountain was substantially taller and what they actually did was carve what they needed, when they needed it and rolled or slid finished stones into position. It would account for the lesser height of this mountain, the sameness of the rocks, and the relative short space of time building this city. Building in stone is practical, little wood available and with the Spanish hot on their heels, speed and stealth was everything. Bringing building material up to this site would mean anything would be in quantity, needing to be processed, being hauled, and leaving a trail to their door by simply following people or the roads used in construction. It's almost impossible not to leave some kind of mark. Work on this scale, using stone, would have left not only indelible but obvious paths. Since the Spanish never found this hideaway, Macchu Picchu was left, some of it restored, much as you can see it today.

There is no proof at this time, only a theory. Surveys of the dressed rocks, the rock exposed but as yet untouched around the Macchu Picchu site, and compared with stone from other peaks, this would be easy enough to prove or disprove.

For most Pre-Colombian building and Pre-Historic sites, today's building methods are impractical. Over thinking a problem is common, it's not easy to think backwards to early tools and experimental techniques. In some early construction, it wasn't just unlimited man power, there was a practical side to making the work easier. There are local resources around the world not considered, people used what was abundant and close. Or they harnessed the elements to speed the process . . . water wheels, A-frames, boats, sledges, ice in the time of the year when no one worked the fields. On a mountain top, there is water, gravity and other stones. Rarely are there remains of baskets, ropes, wood or leather from an early building site, yet we know these were available. Stones can be used to shape other stones and when balanced properly, used to move other stones.

This is only a theory, but sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Christofer French 280 days 19 hours ago.
74 fans.
Your fruitful mind just might upset the archaeological establishment. No telling where you are headed. You have all the humility of an amateur, but all the smarts of a thinking logical person. Keep up with your "revolutionary" thinking. Loved your article.
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