Ollantaytambo is perhaps one of Peru’s most visually puzzling locations. Claimed to be that of the Incas, and located at an elevation of 2,792 meters above sea level, it is nearly difficult to think that the Incan civilisation, with its access to such limited technologies, could have produced such a location.
During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was Emperor Pachacuti’s royal domain, and after he conquered the region, he erected the town and the ceremonial center within.
It is such an outstanding, well situated strategic building that it functioned as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui, head of the Inca resistance, during the Spanish conquest.
The area is now known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas and is a popular tourist destination. However, as we’ve discussed numerous times on our channel, how could a civilisation construct such amazing architecture at such a young age in known history?
Furthermore, why did they construct some of these sites, and what purpose did they serve? Some of the ruins in Peru, particularly in Ollantaytambo, beg the question: if, for example, the colossal staircases calved into the hillside were intended for human use, why were they built on such massive scales?
According to history, the Incan monarch Pachacuti “conquered” Ollantaytambo and the surrounding region around the mid-15th century. All of this was placed into his personal estate.
The emperor then claims to have rebuilt the town with opulent structures, as well as extensively terracing and skilfully irrigating the Urubamba Valley… Notably, without prior knowledge of these procedures…
Ollantaytambo’s main village is orthogonal, with four longitudinal streets intersected by seven parallel streets. At the center of this grid is a big plaza that is open to the east and is bordered on three sides by halls and other town blocks. The northern portion of the city has a more diverse architectural style.
Interestingly, the amount of erosion that has occurred over the years has made the original blueprints difficult to establish, maybe indicating its genuine age? Were giants once able to use these massive ledge steps? Or perhaps it had a purpose comparable to the ancient place known as Morray?
This mind-boggling site, Morray, likewise believed to be Incan, had an astounding function.
It appears that the architects of this massive building were horticulturists. They had figured out that by building these raised ledges at specific angles to the seasonal winds and light, they could gradually acclimate plants that were previously unsuitable for that climate over many generations.
Perhaps this is why Ollantaytambo was built? Moray is rarely known in academia, and its existence and function are difficult to explain using modern paradigms. And, while not giants, we believe the sites originally used were no less remarkable.
