The renowned engineer from the University of Virginia to visit to Peru since 1995 believes that for his profession , Sacsayhuamán is more interesting than Machu Picchu
When I was six years saw pictures of Machu Picchu and knew I had to visit Peru. In 1995 the dream became reality. I am part of the group of specialists who have been coming convened by Kenneth Wright . I have to thank the support of the Cultural Center of the UNI and two people who allow further investigation : David Ugarte INC Cusco and Daniel Ugaz the Ministry of Culture. A couple of weeks ago I presented my research on the Culture Committee of the Congress Parliamentary invitation Julia Teves Cusco.
In 1995, Dr. Miksad decided, for the first time , take a vacation. His wife, biologist, wanted to travel to Galapagos. He, an engineer, wanted to visit Machu Picchu. "We went to the two sites, but Peru, it was love at first sight ," he says .
- What place captivates ?
Machu Picchu is visually spectacular, but eye of an engineer like me, not so interesting. Sacsayhuamán it is. The degree of sophistication, technical level, harmony with nature is amazing. I've been to the Great Wall of China and is ' so-so ' [just like that] compared with Inca work . They were the best of his time.
- During the last 3 years you have been with students from the University of Virginia to study Sacsayhuamán. What is the big question still not resolved?
[Silence] I'll answer differently. In engineering there is a rule: 'The unintended consequences of good intentions have an effect you did not think of". Wanting to do something good, you may end up inadvertently doing something wrong. And in the last 600 years has been destroyed Sacsahuamán in several ways. First: intentionally by the Spanish and then, without malice, by the excavations of archaeologists. At this time the topography has changed and this is added the great problem of the rain ...
- Is the water moving through an area where it should not?
Originally Sacsayhuamán had buildings on top. Water ran down the sides, but not go directly to any of the three walls. Of these, the first two are solid , structural , thick , the third is not. Today the water leads directly to the third party. Never designed to work that way.
- In 2009 collapsed a part ...
Archaeologists made a very important excavation. They found a complex of buildings with stone work quality. They wanted to preserve and protect the foundations put a kind of clay. Today the water passes through the clay and falls directly into the third wall. By doing something with good intention, it did something wrong .
- On every trip delivers a report to the Regional Directorate of Culture of Cusco. What do they say?
It was well received . Immediately opened drainage ditches, but without good hydraulic analysis. There are several problems. How do you protect what you have today ? How do you go back to what it was? I believe that engineers, archaeologists and anthropologists have to work together and try to think as did the Incas to solve these problems.
- Why come back every year?
Because I like the people of this country and because every time I come here I learn something new. For me, the work of the Incas is like a mosaic. At first you see all the points, you have a picture. But at second glance, look elsewhere. Then some are canceled, other reinforcing and see another image. This is my fifth visit to Sacsayhuaman and see that the dots are changing, but more and more clear. I revel in the level of sophistication of Inca engineers, but also with the fact that they never did anything partially . Everything was complete.
- Ollantaytambo are passionate about ...
Spectacular ! Probably, in many respects, is more sophisticated than Tipón hydraulically. There were an underground system of canals and pipes to power a spectacular water sources. It is a complex of sources. With students have researched all the hydraulics of Incamisana [aqueduct carved into the mountain] have traveled up and down the valley and found three channels. We made a map where you can see all the way from the water. There are two sources become four and then become as one. And there's more. The Incas loved the sound of water. There are places where the stones are carved on purpose to get different sounds. For the arrival of sound more turbulent water or stones that produce a bubbling sound .
- Like a complex musical?
Yes, you can make the fonts work as they should. Yes you can do. And if that happens, it could become a tourist attraction impressive. It would be a complex water and sound spectacular. Usually people get to Ollantaytambo, goes to the temple of the sun, low to the market and three hours is going to Machu Picchu. Do not know what they are missing .
03 July 2018
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