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 Location: Northern end of Urubambo Valley, Peru.  Grid Reference: 13� 15' S, 72� 16' W.

 

      Ollantaytambo: (Pre-Inca Mountain Citadel).

A Pre-Inca fortress, with rock walls of tightly fitted blocks weighing over 50 tons each. Most of the blocks consist of  (Andesite)(9), (Red Porphyry)(1), the quarries for which are situated on a mountaintop seven miles distant. As well as the difficulties that must have been experienced in dressing the stones, they had to be lowered down one mountain, over a river canyon with 1000 ft sheer rock walls, then raised up the mountain the complex is situated on. (9).

(Click here for map of the site)

 

 

 

   Ollantaytambo (Ollantiatambo):

Ollantaytambo is a Pre-Inca fortress, with rock walls of tightly fitted blocks weighing upto 150 tons each. Most of the blocks consist of (Hard Andesite)(9), (Red Porphyry)(1), the quarries for which are situated on a mountain-top a few miles distant. As well as the difficulties that must have been experienced in dressing the stones, they had to be lowered down one mountain, over a river canyon with 1000 ft sheer rock walls, then raised up the mountain the complex is situated on. (9).

Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial centre.

The complex was still under construction at the time of the conquest and was never completed. After Manco Inca was defeated by the Spanish at Sacsayhuaman following the unsuccessful siege of Cusco (1536) he retreated to Ollantaytambo. Francisco Pizarro's younger brother Hernando led a force of 70 cavalry, 30 foot soldiers and a large contingent of natives to capture Manco Inca. The Inca's forces, joined by neighbouring jungle tribes, rained down showers of arrows, spears and rocks upon the unfortunate Spanish troops. In an intelligent move the Inca's flooded the plains below their stronghold making it difficult for the horses to manoeuvre. Hernando, uncharacteristically, ordered a hasty retreat. Ollantaytambo became the only place ever to have resisted attacks from the Spanish. However, their victory was short-lived when the Spanish returned with four times their previous force. Manco Inca retreated to his jungle stronghold in Vilcabamba and Ollantaytambo fell into the hands of the Spanish.

 

 

The six Porphyry stones on Temple hill (above), are some of the largest at the site, they weigh approximately 50 tons each.  One of the stones has the remains of a 'stepped-lozenge' motif on its face. When turned horizontally (Photo-Right), the motif is similar to the Egyptian hieroglyph for 'The Exalted one' or 'God'. The same (horizontal) motif is found in Tiahuanaco.

(The Top-50 cut stones of all time)

 

 

Some examples of the excellent masonry at Ollantaytambo.

 

The 'Protuberances' on the stones above and around the site are the same as those found on stones from ancient Egypt, noticeably at Giza and Abydoss. They are commonly believed to have been used to position the stones, however, at Ollantaytambo they appear to have become stylised.

 

 

 

 

 

These 'Metal-Ties' were used to secure blocks together. They are a common construction feature throughout the ancient world, but the ones from Ollantaytambo (left) are an almost exact match with similar ties found at Tiahuanaco (right). This construction feature is also common in Egypt.

 

 

 

 

 

In the 1930s, archaeologists came across greenish stones in the ground, under some structures of Ollantaytambo. It is believed that there was an older temple, a Coricancha perhaps similar to that at Cuzco.

 

 

 

(Other Peruvian sites)

 

References:

1). David. D. Zink. The Ancient Stones Speak. 1979. Musson Books.
9). Rene Noorbergen. Secrets of the Lost Races. 1977. New English Library.

 

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