Incidence of controlled filling on the conservation of the Inca buildings in Cusco

Ancori A.A.; Condori H.A.C. · Geotecnia (2024) · DOI: 10.14195/2184-8394_161_1

Resumen

Worldwide, human settlements located on hillsides or esplanades are easily devastated by various adverse factors. However, buildings of the Inca period, in Cusco-Peru, are preserved standing for more than five centuries. What did the Incas do for the perennial preservation of their buildings? There is a lack of knowledge. For this reason, we seek to evaluate the Inca Controlled Infill (ICF), and its impact on the conservation of buildings in Machupicchu, Pisaq and Saqsaywaman. The study analyzes the foundation soils. Non-invasive equipment (Shmith Hammer-MSh and Dynamic Lightweight Penetrometer-DPL) was used to characterize the RCI and geotechnical competence. The results show that the buildings are located in hard rock geology, on which the RCIs were artificially built; the geotechnical parameters found are competent. The Inca probably chose competent foundation soils and improved them with RCIs to control the soil-foundation-building interaction.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano