Solving the Mystery of the Sacsayhuaman Sacred Landscape: Water | Ancient Architects

In my last video I focussed on this large circular feature next to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, known as Qocha Chincanas, and how this was likely a large man-made reservoir in times gone by: • The Mystery of Qocha C...
Unless you’re in the field, it’s hard to look into this much further, because Google Maps and Google Earth just don’t have enough resolution, and therefore you can’t see the site and surrounding structures in the level of detail needed. Thankfully, there is an absolutely incredible resource that is available to all, and it’s free to use at: sketchfab.com/...
Thanks to this, I believe I can now start to unravel the mysteries of the Sacsayhuaman complex, such as what the various structures to the north could be, why there are different types of masonry and what their functions could have been.
Using the incredible 3D model and looking at the science and archaeology, I've found that the key to unravelling Sacsayhuaman is the universal life force of water. Sacsayhuaman is a sacred water landscape full of channels, ceremonial pools, sacred springs, sacred wak'as and reservoirs. If we analyse the landscape and architecture with water in mind, all starts to become clear.
All images are taken from Google Images and the below sources, including a video from Ben at UnchartedX and Brien Foerster, linked below. Please subscribe to Ancient Architects, Like the video and please leave a comment below.
Sources:
UnchartedX podcast: • UnchartedX Podcast! Cu...
Brien Foerster Video: • Megalithic Peru: Explo...
3D Model: sketchfab.com/...
www.academia.e...
Qochas on Andean highlands by Amelia Carolina Sparavigna
Water and Inca Cosmology: oa.upm.es/9993/...
Huancas and Rituals of Fertility in the Farming Landscape of the Northern Calchaqui Valley: www.jstor.org/...
el-libertario....
#AncientArchitects #Sacsayhuaman #Inca

[@AncientArchitects]

Thank you for watching! If you want to support the channel, you can become a Member of the channel at kzbin.info/door/scI4NOggNSN-Si5QgErNCwjoin or I’m on Patreon at www.patreon.com/ancientarchitects

[@joy_6.9]

❤️❤️

[@pickledpigknuckles6945]

Sacsayhuaman phonetically sounds exactly Like Sexy Woman

[@AncientArchitects]

Haha. I know

[@doomed2die595]

Can someone in comments use their superior knowledge of 3d rendering and use the linked 3d model of the site, and use a program like sketch fab to cut and slice, turn and flip the boulders and wrecked areas and perhaps maybe tetris it back together sort of it dont need to be perfect just create a better overall picture, come on smarter people then me callin on my fellow Archinerds

[@geoffbeyrent6950]

This is a well rendered hypothesis. It leaves me wondering what the water table looked like during the times of construction and use.

[@RostislavLapshin]

Several methods of fabrication of the polygonal masonry using clay/gypsum replicas, a topography translator, reduced clay models of the stone blocks, and a 3D-pantograph are described in the article “Fabrication methods of the polygonal masonry of large tightly fitted stone blocks with curved surface interfaces in megalithic structures of Peru” (DOI: 10.20944/preprints202108.0087.v5). I do not provide a direct link, because KZbin does not allow a comment with this link. Search by the article title.

[@hermanlequint2740]

Lol the article says all the polygonal masonry worldwide was built by Europeans since the 17th century 😅

[@SueDonum123]

I’ve read your article. This method is way too complex to be successful. The way it was really done is far more simple than what you propose

[@RostislavLapshin]

The 10th article edition (DOI: 10.20944/preprints202108.0087.v10) is posted. Search the article by DOI or by title.

[@RostislavLapshin]

For those who are interested in the topic of polygonal masonry. The book “Peruvian polygonal masonry: how, who, when and what for” (114 pp., Litres, Moscow, 2024) has been published. The book is freely available at Litres (to download, a registration is only required).

[@DanDavisHistory]

I love it when you use your geological expertise. Thanks for another fascinating video.

[@AncientArchitects]

Thanks for watching

[@Lemma01]

Excellent synthesis, Matt. You might add that if you channel in order to control the water, you probably would have no difficulty controlling the populace below: any sign of trouble and "the angry gods" could divert the flow with a sluice, perhaps collecting water in the great basin, and dry up the waterfall into the city. That would be both theatrically and practically quite effective, I can imagine.

[@tanner1985]

Interesting connection with politics and crowds management!

[@doomed2die595]

Just when an AA therapy session is needed, there it is in its splendor, perfectly on time, and perfectly perfect. Thank you Matt for takin my brain away from me for 24 min.......48 min im watchin this twice.

[@AncientArchitects]

Thank you! Making these videos also takes me away from real life. :)

[@doomed2die595]

@@AncientArchitects Hope yur doin good in real life Matt, survivin and healthy at the least.

[@doomed2die595]

@Albert Frankenstien who said anything about aliens? AA is short for Ancient Architects yah dope lol.

[@nicknewell23]

@@doomed2die595 ya right nice try. aliens not gana trick me

[@nicknewell23]

@@doomed2die595 ya right nice try. aliens not gana trick me

[@rogerhwerner6997]

Archaeology has barely scratched the study of archaeological landscapes. There's a great deal to learn.

[@jameslifetimelearner]

OMG I saw the condor and the hawk! Thanks for validating the human endeavor and design.

[@VibrationsfromMirror]

Wyoming National Park has a Hawk too. HUGE and gorgeous view!

[@aresaurelian]

We can appreciate all these structured puzzles that the ancients left for us to discover and wonder about.

[@CyFr]

Gotta love all the work you do. Always well put together.

[@AncientArchitects]

Thank you 🙏

[@purabranjan4494]

This actually makes a lot of sense! The way everything falls into place with this theory is really astounding.

[@AncientArchitects]

It did for me. Thank you

[@iamllux]

This is a fantastic video! I haven't heard anything about this site that makes so much sense, and with your explanations of what may have been there, I can't unsee it. It's no longer a strange place with strange architecture, but looks like a a very useful and beautiful site. No wonder it was so important. It must have been very impressive in it's day.

[@auspiciouscloud8786]

Exactly my thinking! Also it seems absurd that the pros don’t know this but why keep up the mystery??? Archeologists should be renamed to Liars For Tourism! ❤️ You are amazing Matt (Ancient Architects)!!

[@benjamincrowley9919]

I've been thinking a lot about how water in general seems to have been massively sacred to ancient Southern and Central American peoples and I have to say I'm highly encouraged by this line of thinking about water rituals. I think we are just starting to scratch the surface on just how differently the ancients of the region looked at the natural world, and how highly they valued juxtaposition of earth and sky and water and animal symbology that they found in nature. As for water rituals, and what you described as a possible "flooding" ritual overseen by the ruler at Sacsayhuaman reminded me of a theory I had heard about the Teotihuacan complex and made me wonder if such a ritual might serve more than one purpose or meaning. Also a Sun and Moon temple site, I heard a theory that the entire Teotihuacan complex may have been built with the intention of flooding as there seems to be evidence of water around the bases of many of the structures there. I know its two separate cultures but it made me wonder if such a ritual, like their art and the Mayan writing system, might also too have been designed to have layers of meaning and purpose. For example I think the Teotihuacan theory mentioned the builders may have been using such a large area of controlled water flooding as a sort of massive stellar observatory using the still reflection in the water to view the night sky. The Earth Sky Water connection seemed to be aligned with this idea as well as the possibility that such a ritual may have even been a tribute to the ancestors destroyed by the flood as the Egyptians also incorporated ritual tributes to Zepteppi, and even the Moi of Easter Island and the Enclosures of Gobekli Teppe seem to have been connected to rituals honoring the past and the memory of the world and ancestors lost.

[@travishayes6678]

Water management actually provides a reason for the tight-fit polygonal masonry. Once these techniques were mastered, they could then be applied more generally. Brilliant speculation!

[@AncientArchitects]

Yep... I speculate, but I guess that’s how every idea starts. I try to give the walls context.

[@travishayes6678]

@@AncientArchitects oh, I didn't mean it in a negative way at all. I love what you're doing!

[@auspiciouscloud8786]

@@travishayes6678 you’re apologizing for the wrong thing....

[@dougg1075]

Dude , you are a professional at this . Awesome research

[@AncientArchitects]

Thanks man

[@hefruth]

I appreciate your deskchair scholarship. We need more people examining such ancient sites in order to fully understand what the ancients were doing. The only part of your examination I openly object to is "seeing" images of the birds on the landscape from a higher view, mostly because the terrain does not look now like it looked then, but also because the images of such birds would have been different for the ancients than it is for us. Keep critically analyzing these ancient works!

[@On-Our-Radar-24News]

I love the thinking and hypothesis here! I agree, water was sacred to the Inca civilization. However, I personally do not think the Inca were the original creators of the site. They did not posses the means or technology to construct the polygonal rock walls and structures we see. Additionally, with only 10-15% of the site excavated, I believe we need to fully excavate the site in order to determine the possible true purpose for these megalithic structures. I believe the Inca found these sites post catastrophic event in which these megalithic structures were destroyed and saw the early reverence for these places and continued to honor and respect these sites in their own way. Whatever the answer is, we all can agree that there is no one theory or hypothesis that answers all of the mysteries of these places. We need to keep questioning and hypothesizing on the past until we can as accurately as possible describe the true nature and purpose of these mysteries. I really enjoyed the presentation.

[@juliansolros3823]

Yeah, you have to wonder how long it took for that reservoir to fill in. If it was a reservoir in Inca times, it's a pretty significant feature that seems conspicuously absent from the chronicler's notes.

[@vickyesperanza8267]

God utterly destroyed them during the flood.

[@On-Our-Radar-24News]

@@vickyesperanza8267 LOL

[@ast3663]

your statement is very racist.

[@On-Our-Radar-24News]

@@ast3663 Who's statement is racist?

[@Dihechuwa]

I truly can appreciate the theory/concept of the outline of condor aerial perspective. Nice!

[@stage1greg]

Yes! still watching, just reserving future post to ask, wow, i think that area is a big manual valve to direct the water in different ways, to fill the pool, or go down the hill, etc. great video Matt!

[@MrSixxshooter]

Absolutely brilliant research Matt . Thank you so much . 🙏♥️

[@hopey7625]

All these things you cover really shows that we have very little idea about the last 100 thousand years of human life and the things we have done. Keep up the quality work

[@jbaker6745]

Wow! I think you’re on the right track, Good research 😀 What outstanding hydrological abilities they had. They seem to have built everything with multi purpose in mind. But not such a stretch to the imagination when you add their beliefs of venerating the elements of the planet with water being the most important. Today we seem to build things for functionality only. Back then they created beautiful structures that worked functionally but with the added aspects of giving thanks and appreciation to the planet 👍💗👍

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

It reminds me of Ancient Egypt, in terms of the complex overlap of asserting political power over the populace, managing essential resources, and integrating their religious beliefs into all of that?

[@greatskytrollantidrama4473]

Alot of South America ruins are intimately linked to water, sweet water locations are usually marked by some sort of shrine niche, or sometimes a feature, carvings, model landscapes. It's all very pointedly done in reverence of water.

[@AncientArchitects]

Yes... these wak’a’s I think are natural limestone outcrops were water came from. So they carved them, honoured them and respected them. 👍

[@nickflood4974]

well researched videos like this give validity to critical research of ancient sites that deviate from the academic canon.

[@kawasakikev8905]

you've gone into some detail in this one Matt , i like the outlines of the birds idea and your connection with the water channels is good too . can't wait for more info now thanks ..

[@AncientArchitects]

I try to go into as much detail as possible :) Thanks mate

[@gotMylky]

Another thoroughly researched, unbiased project. I'm glad there are people out there like you who can do this kind of research and present it in a very easy to consume way. I commented on your last video about how the water aspect changed my view of the site and this was beyond my expectations, thank you again for sharing. Also I don't think you are crazy about the condor, but the hawk was a bit squiffy :P

[@AncientArchitects]

Haha. I like to speculate a little 😂

[@anvilbrunner.2013]

Excellent powers of deduction. You'd make a great detective.

[@JuanAlduey]

Great analysis. Very intrigued by the idea that the megalithic walls exist to prevent/control water leakage. Given enough clues about the "why" of the walls, maybe someday we'll be able to come back around to the "how."

[@RicoExNihilo]

Thank YOU - This is a helpful information for me and my personal History research !!! I look to many of your videos and know the whole complex and the Storys about that. But again (i think it´s the 5th time), you have show me some really important things!!! The water management is some really important knowledge for our ancestors and.. ..our understanding for us and what they did long before us in this region int this hills. You have show again, that looking from above is much more important that we know. +++ One Point that you have given me Know +++ 4 Points you have give me in the last Years !!!!!!!! - waterresistand walls and the bigger looking view above this place with eagle eyes. - polagynal walls around the world and that they are often the oldest (foundation). - Special stonework marks, in global cultures that are official have no conact. - simularitys in so much Archeological sites and Mystical Storys and bounds. - and so on, pl do your thing and find more of this, i love History research! Thank you for you work! Any times nice to see it.. Greetings from Germany

[@AncientArchitects]

Thank you! And good luck with the research!

[@ian_b]

Just the thing to watch while I eat me dinner :)

[@AncientArchitects]

Enjoy!

[@kainatticus]

The sculpted boulders look like models or practicing techniques for stone carving, ie steps, cavity, corners etc

[@38TEA]

Thanks for your work on this mystery. I wanted to share a thought regarding the standard masonry that you point out in Sacsayhuaman. These crudely built small-stone wall seem to be a very common recent/modern practice of reconstruction/clean-up/Tourist-accommodation Not only in Peru but all ancient sites that attract tourists. I think I am hearing you say in your videos that you believe them to be something that is also ancient, but if you look at the old original Black and white photos that document of these sites you will not see these. Also, just go to Machu Picchu today, in person, and you will witness firsthand numerous men all over the site busy constructing (Reconstructing?) Walls, paths, buildings all around the original ancient stonework. They even admit that they are building it to look like what they think it would have looked like. You might want to clarify this in an upcoming video if I am correct.

[@kenrik2105]

The polygonal megalithic structures reflect ancient technology beyond the capabilities of the Inca, who built atop pre-existing ruins.

[@baysideauto]

I swear Matt you know when I get home and have stuff to do But not after kicking back and watching this. Thanks sir.

[@AncientArchitects]

Hahaha

[@wachtelkoenig]

You really need to see things and follow Your intuition, if You want to recognize groundstructures representing Condor and Falcon! There are worldwide examples of huge Pictures of animals on ground. Nazca is not o far away and is famous for it. Great work, Matt!

[@olemann77]

Herro everybody :)) This is excellent work. Water is the key for survival in bad times, having control over this and a backup is brilliant.

[@AncientArchitects]

Herro!

[@olemann77]

@@AncientArchitects This might be your best work man. I need to digest it a bit

[@olemann77]

@@ZeroOneInfinity Nothing mean about it.. its like his cool trademark.

[@allegrac230]

Absolutely stunning... thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@davebremixes]

The water management makes sense but I disagree that it was built all at the same time. You could say that the Inka repaired and used this site before it's destruction. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@auspiciouscloud8786]

He NEVER said it was built all at the same time, what the heck and you’re not the only one.... 😡 Why do people have this immediate brain washed state of who built what, did you not watch the video....? Sounds like Matt is getting too close to the truth... keep diverting people from the truth by causing argument about who built it, omg your are missing the whole subject of the video. 😡

[@slowburntm3584]

So refreshing to have an intelligent study of misunderstood historical archeology without making huge, unsupported claims of aliens as a default!

[@jonathanbriceno5935]

Amazing investigation. I’m from Peru and this makes sense. Congratulations

[@juliansolros3823]

That last bit where you showed the condor gave me chills. I really appreciate this video for its thoroughness. With regards to Huacas, most carved boulders are huacas, but not all huacas are carved stones, they also include stone idols (not thought to exist anymore), as well as natural features like rivers, mountains, or otherwise sacred spots. Every Inca source unequivocally states that the Huacas are very old, from well before the time of the Inca, basically lost to history, sometimes related to legends of Wiracocha turning people to stone, so it's possible that they were carved in recent times, but honestly I find it unlikely given the oral history. Also, there's no tunnel from Chincana Grande (or Piedra Cansada) to Qocha Chincana. But Chincana is a word that refers to the tunnels, and apparently means "place where one gets lost", so Qocha Chincana is "lake of tunnels". The tunnel that connects to the lake (at least the accessible one) goes a short distance to the east where it emerges among some very odd rock formations.

[@AncientArchitects]

Thank you. I admit, I am still learning. This channel is basically my current level of knowledge :)

[@juliansolros3823]

It’s refreshing. Honestly if I read textbooks as a kid and they had said “we think this is what happened, but we really have no idea and it’s mostly just mysterious” I would have been way more interested in history.

[@tanner1985]

@@juliansolros3823 you seem exceptionally interested anyway indeed!

[@LudovicCelle]

One of your best videos !!!

[@AncientArchitects]

Thanks man!

[@Ratnoseterry]

We definitely need a video on inca, water, and ritual 👌

[@alexhoffmann9726]

Another great video! The major question remains the same - what kind of tools and technology did the primitive ancient people use to accomplish all of this? It’s not just polygonal masonry with some blocks weighing tens of tonnes, but carving the landscape on such a scale! Apart from this to complete such a mega project a lot of work had to be done prior, like geodesic research, planning. Not to mention proper logistics. Or maybe the people who built this were not so primitive? It takes more than just an obsession with water, religious beliefs and a mega workforce to construct this! Let’s not forget that this isn’t the only mind blowing archeological site in South America. For instance, there’s the 8 km long water channel in Cumbe Mayo carved in bedrock with unexplainable precision.

[@AncientArchitects]

I can’t answer the “how”. I think most Sacsayhuaman stone was quarried in situ, right there. The large basal blocks could have been very close to the final position.

[@alexhoffmann9726]

@@AncientArchitects The stone might have been quarried the same place as the construction, but what amount of bronze (or whatever material) the tools were made of it would have taken to produce? If it was thousands of people who worked there, they needed food etc. In Egypt the classic explanation is that it was done for the Pharaoh by slaves, here it definitely looks like it served a technological purpose (in Egypt actually it looks the same) and the explanation that the ancient ruler was obsessed with water simply doesn’t work...

[@scifigeezer5271]

@@alexhoffmann9726 yeah I mean who would be obsessed with the exilir of life?! 🤣 They didn't have taps back then.

[@alexhoffmann9726]

@@scifigeezer5271 Sure, that’s why they carved millions of tons of rock throughout the Americas, would’ve been easier to invent a tap and connect it to a bronze pipe as due to conventional history they had to use hundreds of millions of tonnes of it anyway! 😜

[@RealTalkT.V.]

Love your videos bro. They are well researched and informative. I just had to point it out but, at 10:53 the main rock that is shown in the picture you used looked like a face that been badly eroded by water. I know this might just be paradolia but I had to point it out. Keep up the good work👍🏾👌🏾

[@thugmessiah]

I was just going to say the same thing, its definitely a face, you can see the lips, it looks olmec.. cool stuff

[@MrLorbu]

You made a good point, a very reasonable observation and conclusion!

[@theschoolofmodernsoulscien4161]

Fascinating theory. Plausible. Good work!

[@monastevenson958]

Bravo. Well researched and presented. Their sophistication is breathtaking. Thanks Matt.

[@AncientArchitects]

Cheers 👍

[@onefive95]

Great video and interpretation of this site. What a beautiful place it must have been.

[@AncientArchitects]

I like to think so. And there would have been so many buildings around too.

[@DerekNing]

Great episode, Matt! 👍

[@AncientArchitects]

Thank you

[@fldon2306]

The site is so large, when I visited, was unable to see it all. Incas, etc we’re big on water and artesian springs. Near by, at about 15,000 ft is Baños del Inca, and of course above Machu Picchu, with irrigation/plumbing channels into the sites. Down River from Machu Picchu are hot thermal spring baths that I had visited too. Visited Caral as well. Irrigation canals line the Supe and other valleys that are still used today. Amazing culture, but disappearing Andean Glaciers aren’t replenishing these springs.

[@chriswillsdon992]

Very good Matt enjoyed that immensely thank you for the research

[@sdaniel9129]

You might be on to something, but I still think that the Inca people came from Bolivia and found the ruins of a previous civilization! Keep up the good work Matt... Greetings from a Suspicious 0bserver from the Netherlands!

[@Apocalypse4162]

I really like your detailed work and just started watching your videos about a month ago. What you have outlined here is worthy of respect and hopefully leads to even more studies of this area. After many years of interest and some research in ancient architecture and ancient obscured human history, I consider that the polygonal walls could have been made by using a type of sandbag or other soft fabric container that would bulge slightly when filled with some kind of geopolymer. Filled, stacked and poured, one layer at a time, given a little time to harden before stacking the next layer, they would conform together snugly, and after petrification over time and natural processes, what remains are the stone blocks we see today. What baffles me most is how it looks like there are certain animals represented in some areas of the walls. Another interesting idea I've heard presented before is frequency manipulation, total sci fi sounding but perhaps the molecular structure can be temporarily altered under certain wavelengths and then as the rocks were stacked, their edges were manipulated to sort of meld together. Thats a very wild idea but fun to hypothesize on. As for the out-of-place lighter chunks of rocks that appear to have carved sections of stairways and straight edges etc, I am thinking they are actually very ancient remnants of some other petrified ruins. Most remnants of extremely ancient times all over the world appear as just chunks of stones after all these years but in some rare cases we see bits and pieces of those monumental structures sticking out as a petrified stone imprint. In some cases you can even see that on the stone "carvings" are things that wouldn't need to be carved into stone that would only serve a purpose structurally. A rock doesn't need to have things such as crossbeams and bolts and rivets carved into them. We see random straight edges, perfectly cut squares and holes, straight edges that look like they would continue but instead suddenly end so precisely as if snapped off cleanly by an unfathomable force. These sections are considered to be rock-carved holes and walls in the sides of cliffs and stones in mainstream archaeology and they give their reasons, but the randomness of how it is all laid out leads me to believe its really very old pieces of structures that have seen many disasters over a long period of time, possibly petrified eons ago & eventually smashed to bits post-petrification, scattering pieces all over, like a rose dipped in liquid nitrogen and smashed into clean fragments. Might sound a bit weird but so does ancient primitive civilizations hand chiseling perfectly cut edges into some rocks laying around. This looks like (to me) old remains of a mega sized structure beneath the remaining land. You can see more outlines and whats left of other structural components under the grass and dirt and chunks of stone and ruins that go down, as well as walls that are partially buried. It could go down far. More recent civilization used its existing inner structure to their advantage with their waterway tunnels and the springs may well have been the water system of the previous mega structure that this ruin sits on top of! There is more to be unearthed. Thanks for reading my ramble

[@SuperBjanka]

I think the creators understood water condensation. Fog condense on cool surfaces like stone, and on a porous stone like limestone there are more surfaces.

[@AncientArchitects]

Interesting! The internal masonry structures of Qochas were concave so evaporation was less, apparently, which is pretty amazing.

[@pamelahomeyer748]

I love your research and appreciate this video very much. This is a nice fresh look at a problem that is begging to be solved

[@AncientArchitects]

Thank you!

[@kathysviolindiaryadultbegi3378]

The large boulder at Sayhuite looks like a mini model of what this Qocha Chincanas used to look like. Sayhuite is about 3 hours from Cusco.

[@alphalunamare]

Fascinating, but where has all the water gone? Is there record of massive changes in weather etc. I know the Sahara was once wet and is evidenced, is there any for this area?

[@Garo48]

Great ideas and presentation as usual!

[@carlton4610]

Would you just Look at the detailing ; ( specifically of those..) The 3 or 4 linear ridges in different locations ; above water openings ; etc... I am very impressed by this (!) It gives me the impression of technological mastery and especially scientific insight !

[@orionx3000]

Man... I love all the crazy videos, You know what i mean but you have brought such a nice grounded approach to the subject and im grateful for it. Much of this study gets ignored bc of the ancient aliens groups and while that may have led me to this world of study, I have departed from it and im thankful you are level headed. This video is brilliant Thank you!

[@AncientArchitects]

Same for me. A lot of the alternative ideas got me interested but the more I researched, the more I found holes in theories, so now I try and stick to the science and make calculated assumptions based on what I can see 👍

[@ricktodd3808]

Love the reservoir idea, makes perfect sense.

[@MillHizzo]

The statues, with the hands and fingers on the side, make me think of Goebekli and Karahan Tepe pillars.

[@jstdrv]

Great work Mr architect!

[@Gianfranco_69]

To ancient peoples water and life were interchangeable..they knew rain created growth ,they knew lack of water equalled death... the unseen "non human intelligence" of the elements is another debate that we havent the time here to even start to get into

[@Gianfranco_69]

You in my top 5 channels EASILY btw 👍

[@John-ym9ht]

It is very possible that the conquistadors at some point or even the church blew up/destroyed some of these sacred centers. What better way would there be to discourage continued colonization or religious practices.

[@Itchypantz]

You gotta be fucking full of yourself to need to destroy something so beautiful!

[@pytheus]

Great video and incredible insightful analysis!! Thank you!! Do you think the mysterious Moray structure is also a reservoir?

[@historybuff7491]

thank you for the info

[@AncientArchitects]

Thank you for watching and commenting

[@jtmunn4496]

Without a doubt that big bolder had a face carved into it at one time.

[@kathysviolindiaryadultbegi3378]

like the olmec! I saw that, too.

[@davidnough705]

Good ideas about this being a water park. Also this, would make for a nice fish farm pond, with turtles, & frogs! 3'd Lego type of Megalithic Structures; look to be strewn around. A Olmac head, or Condor massive build!🗿

[@lawneymalbrough4309]

I think you are on the right track here

[@matthewshingleton7088]

Fascinating stuff! Here's a question I've always had about sites featuring the three styles of Incan stonework: Most Ancient Tech theorists point out that the larger megalithic blocks (Uran Pacha) are almost always on the lowest layers of construction at this famous ancient sites, with the smaller and less impressive and stable "later" stones (Ukun Pacha) appearing on top of the megalithic work, hence the theory of the Incans working over the earlier megalithic architects. I figure seeing as Ancient Architects is IMO the most objective and scientific channel of this community then perhaps one of your videos is the best place for me to ask this question: Why couldn't the Incan civilisation started off with the smaller Ukun Pacha style and then figured out how to build massive megalithic stones at a later date (let's say because earthquakes exposed the structural fallibility of the Ukun Pacha style of building), and so then simply rebuilt these walls with the much more stable polygonal megalithic Uran Pacha on the ground where they can provide a stable base for work in the Ukun style to continue on top? I mean, in my head the only impediment to them completely rebuilding the walls of Sacsayhuaman once they figured out the more stable style would be the time and manpower required, but the one thing we know about the Inca is that they had a pretty massive populace for the time back then.

[@auspiciouscloud8786]

Did you not watch this video, Matt says that the megalithic stones are for water retention and the smaller less stable were for support... You seem intelligent but your comment states that you clearly missed Matt’s observations, why? 😡

[@matthewshingleton7088]

@@auspiciouscloud8786 You talk about intelligence, but you seem to have taken Matt's comments about water retention systems and applied them to ALL stonework across Peru. Just to clarify, I'm talking about places where the giant multi-tonne rocks are at the bottom and then rougher smaller work on top, these can be seen in Cusco and Sacsay and no these are for WALLS, as in Cusco, and NOT water retention. The giant megalithic water retention constructions Matt discusses could have just came later.

[@auspiciouscloud8786]

@@matthewshingleton7088 I like how you are saying could have come later. He is saying that the giant megalithic stones are for water retention, which makes the most sense of all. The earthquakes also make it necessary to use polygonal stonework for water retention or for wall building. Just because someone said that the Inca said they didn’t do the big stones doesn’t mean they didn’t. Thank you for your pleasant reply, by the way.

[@matthewshingleton7088]

@@auspiciouscloud8786 My point was in discussion to the various constructions we see around Peru, the walls in Cusco, the buildings of Machu Picchu, etc, where we see giant megalithic blocks at the base and non-megalithic blocks on top, and every ancient high technoology theorist states "well this proves the megalithic were the older layers, they're the lower layers". Well no, not if they knocked down the structure and rebult it with megalthic at the bottom for greater stability, which they had ample manpower at their disposal to do so in a relatively short time. What you're questioning my "intelligence" over (and then wondering why you got a snarky response) is Matt's theory about water retention structures. Well obviously if you need the megalithic to build the water retention structures then that's how they were originally built, but these structures could have been built from scratch at a much later point in the Incan Empire's lifetime when they had acquired the knowledge of how to quarry, shape, and handle megalthic rocks. It is not rocket science. Matt does not prove the dates when these structures were built, he's just offering a theory on what function they served!

[@QalOrt]

If I remember my old class on the Inca Empire, the Inca were masters of waterworks and bringing water to the dry regions of the highlands.

[@Bashchannel]

Interesting! I think you are spot on.

[@jamesstevens3469]

Great video, very interesting insights with the water angle. If the tight fit polygonal walls were constructed for water management, we have to then transfer that theory and look at Cusco itself, as it has buildings in this style too.. I do have one axe to grind though. Making the claim that the loose stonework filling the gaps of these tight fit polygonal walls was made by the same people at the same time is pretty ludicrous.

[@stephendickinson8454]

Enjoyed the discussion. Very logical and quite believable but..... Why no water these days coming from any of the springs? What has changed?

[@RedSkysAreOnFire]

the spanish used the site as a quarry, there used to be a lot of tall square and round towers at the site that the spanish dismantled or blew up. towers still exist at other less travelled sites

[@jonstrande2074]

What happened to the springs? Do they not flow no longer?

[@Itchypantz]

Springs will change on a heartbeat if there is a geological event at just the right magnitude. The aquifers run along the different strata and when they meet any fissures or hard stone or clay or what-have-you, they will change direction. A spring will be in the same place for 100 years. Then.. bam. No spring. The aquifer can be fed from a long way off. The change does not have to even be nearby. ^^ I wrote it on the internet as though I know it, but I am no geologist. Hit me if I am wrong.

[@Itchypantz]

As I watched, I considered how the Spaniards might have destroyed the spring. But even a Spaniard could appreciate a park of that grandeur! How could someone come to destroy something so amazing?!

[@darrenwoolley51]

Matt, your a clever lad, I think you have the eyes to see, when it comes to reading the rock you've become my authority, I think your on the money my friend...

[@TheARguy15]

HOLY HELL ! LOOK AT THAT WEBSITE. THANK YOU!

[@AncientArchitects]

The 3D model is the most amazing thing about all this. I’ve spent hours on it.

[@TheARguy15]

@@AncientArchitects This will be a great addition to my bookmarks tab. Thank you for another awesome and enlightening video.

[@tolbaszy8067]

Water management is a brilliant interpretation of Sacsayhuaman, but the spaceshot silhouettes are bird-brained!

[@wuzgoanon9373]

Well done. Very intriguing.

[@AncientArchitects]

Cheers 👍

[@ollyburger]

Then keep scratching Sir. Another excellent video

[@vikingat600]

All I can say is wow.

[@TheAdventureZombie]

Or the step platforms are for acoustics. Maybe they were able to create pleasing sounds with the water and wanted to amplify them.

[@twosistersinthewild4858]

MATT - READ THIS POST - Probably just a school for the stone-cutting trade. When you clear away all the bs about rituals and sacred-ness the random locations of the cuts makes perfect sense. students would be learning the stone-cutting trade using various techniques on a soft rock that doesn't serve a real use otherwise. The water was just water.

[@AncientArchitects]

Its a fair and simple interpretation. I grant you that.

[@auspiciouscloud8786]

Most apprenticeships pair a master with a student, the real jobs would be the classroom, no need for a separate “training area”....

[@retrogametherapy2918]

Great analysis. There may have been significant water flow from the reservoir to the extent that they created the megalithic zig zag walls to control water flow to Cuzco. There are smaller versions of this model scattered through out the region. This would make a great hydrology study.

[@tumppigo]

Now make the video that explains HOW the megaliths were built, and with such precision :-)

[@TerribleShmeltingAccident]

Awesome, that tool really blew your mind once you realized what u could do w/ it.. 🤓 🌩 🤯

[@williambradfordbaldwin4386]

Very informative my friend! It was beginning to look like a water park a little bit! People had to have fun back then too right? Dont feel bad about seeing things, I watch for things like that all the time! ( the land has many spirit shapes) I thought I saw HAND shapes at the ends of the zig zag walls from the aerial view! This is my favorite ancient site , would love to go there! I also saw what reminded me of the Olmec heads vaguely in that one boulder!

[@MelbaOzzie]

Assuming the water management theory is correct, why do we not see these water flows today? Where are the springs, and why is there no seepage of water coming from their alleged locations?

[@jotunheim2080]

9:43 am I the only one seeing a face or head with a helmet or crown in the big rock at 9:43 ?

[@AncientArchitects]

Interesting. Could be just the way the rock’s broken, or maybe not 🤷‍♂️

[@jsqaured2235]

I came to the comments to see if anyone else saw it 😂

[@jotunheim2080]

Maybe only a question of perspective/camera angle but it reminds of the Olmec heads.

[@allanhastings7688]

I thought I was having a spout of pareidolia. But proportions exacting facial features like Olmec heads are striking. Interesting 🤔

[@jotunheim2080]

@@allanhastings7688 once you see it you can't unsee it. 🧐

[@auspiciouscloud8786]

I wish all these rubble rocks could be laser scanned and digitally rotated to be reassembled... 😃❤️❤️❤️

[@thomashansen8043]

Thanks man : )

[@AncientArchitects]

Cheers mate

[@mikesonneson2824]

Enjoyed

[@kcsunnyone]

excellent video! they were the water kings.

[@AncientArchitects]

👍

[@ung427]

Yeah, that's what I thought too... the carvings looked like they were from pieces that used to be in place, but were exploded outwards, and then landed...some upside down..like that staircase. Perhaps it was a big giant granite outcropping, looking just like the little model.. where the spring came from the top of the giant rock. Then something happened... either it was struck with some type of plasma ray solar event.. or the water pressure suddenly and violently increased... exploding the entire thing.

[@summerbrooks9922]

Your interpretation makes sense. Beautiful Saksayhuaman. Lovely skilled engineering. But was this killke inspired?

[@dougg1075]

This is like a no fear no no bias take on history . Hopefully this will start the equilibrium of the sciences and open mindedness.

[@AncientArchitects]

I used to be influenced by lots of people, but I realised that wasn’t getting me anywhere. I do my own thing, make my own mind up. I change my mind if I see a better interpretation and evidence. Open minded but also trying to be realistic and logical.

[@Chabink]

Great stuff!

[@9Justo]

Great video thanks