The view from Machu Picchu's Sacred Plaza makes one appreciate
the superb craftmenship of the Inca. Surrounding the plaza are the
most important buildings of the city. The Principal Temple is an example
of excellent Inca stonemasonry, with its large stone blocks polished
smooth and joined perfectly.
The jumbling of the stones in one corner is due to
the settling of the earth over the years, and not
to any defect in construction. The Inca used no mortar
to hold their walls in place; they relied upon precisely
cut stones, geometry, and female and male joints in
the corners and foundations. Their best-built structures
withstand the passing of centuries, and even multiple
earthquakes, without suffering.
