This is How They Built the Inca Stone Walls | Ancient Architects

Recent questions

• How were the Inca stone walls constructed?

  The Inca stone walls were constructed using a reddish sticky clay mortar, possibly mixed with molten gold, silver, or bitumen, to fill gaps and stabilize the stones. They may have used acid mine water to soften the rocks and mold them into tightly fitting walls. Additionally, an acidic paste made from the reaction of bacteria with sulfide minerals could have been used to dissolve silicate minerals in the rocks and fill gaps between stones. Heating the clay substance with crushed pyrites from the mines could generate high temperatures, aiding in the fitting of stones together in Inca constructions. The use of these substances accelerated chemical reactions, creating hot sulfuric acid that, when combined with crushed pyrite and organic matter, helped mold the stones into place.

• What materials were used in Inca stone walls?

  The Inca stone walls were constructed using hard igneous rocks containing quartz, feldspars, and other minerals such as andesite, diorite, granite, and rhyolite. The Inca used a reddish sticky clay mortar, possibly mixed with molten gold, silver, or bitumen, to fill gaps and stabilize the stones in their constructions. They may have also utilized acid mine water, a byproduct of mining activities rich in sulfide minerals, to soften the rocks and mold them into tightly fitting walls. Additionally, an acidic paste made from the reaction of bacteria with sulfide minerals could have been used to dissolve silicate minerals in the rocks and fill gaps between stones.

• Did the Inca civilization have iron tools?

  The Inca civilization supposedly lacked iron tools, which has puzzled archaeologists and researchers due to the intricate construction of the Inca stone walls. Despite this lack of advanced technology, the Inca were able to create perfectly interlocking megalithic stones that even a razor blade cannot penetrate the joints. The construction techniques employed by the Inca involved using various materials such as hard igneous rocks, a reddish sticky clay mortar, and possibly acid mine water to soften the rocks and mold them into place.

• What legend is associated with the construction of Inca stone walls?

  The Inca legend of using a herb or plant to soften rocks may have some truth, as organic matter can accelerate the dissolution of silicate minerals in rocks. The Inca may have heated the clay substance with crushed pyrites from the mines to generate high temperatures, aiding in the fitting of stones together in their constructions. Additionally, the application of dissolved silicate substance into small holes and gaps allowed for the creation of multi-faced perfectly cut stones within walls of larger blocks, which were then treated and finished with tools.

• How were Inca stone walls constructed without advanced technology?

  The Inca stone walls were constructed without requiring advanced technology by utilizing a combination of materials and techniques. They used a reddish sticky clay mortar, possibly mixed with molten gold, silver, or bitumen, to fill gaps and stabilize the stones. The Inca may have used acid mine water to soften the rocks and mold them into tightly fitting walls, as well as an acidic paste made from the reaction of bacteria with sulfide minerals to dissolve silicate minerals in the rocks and fill gaps between stones. By employing these methods, along with heating the clay substance with crushed pyrites from the mines to generate high temperatures, the Inca were able to construct their remarkable stone walls with precision and intricacy.