Anan Tao Fortress, nestled in the Andes, is an architectural masterpiece of the Inca civilization that has amazed archaeologists and historians for centuries. The fortress was built from huge blocks of stone, some weighing more than 100 tons, which were quarried from quarries many kilometers away, transported through deep valleys and the Urubamba River and assembled with incredible precision.
The blocks were fitted together so tightly that a knife could not be inserted between the joints, leading many to question whether the Incas used a lost technology or were assisted by supernatural forces.
In particular, the Temple of the Sun – located on a steep hill at Anan Tao – is a clear testament to the extraordinary architectural skills of the Incas. The blocks used to build the temple, weighing up to 140 tons, were quarried from a mountain some 6 kilometers away, and had to cross rivers and valleys to reach the construction site.
This raises questions about the Inca’s engineering and capabilities, especially since they did not have modern machinery. Many researchers have hypothesized that the Incas may have used special plants to soften the rocks to make them easier to shape and join, but this hypothesis is still lacking in concrete evidence.
The nearby Moray Terraces are another wonder, demonstrating the Inca’s deep understanding of agriculture and microclimates. These terraces were built in a spiral pattern, simulating different environmental conditions, allowing the Incas to cultivate and experiment with crop varieties at different altitudes and climates, thereby developing sustainable agriculture.
The Maras Salt Mines, a system of thousands of salt ponds in the surrounding area, are another example of advanced resource management techniques. These salt ponds were built to extract salt from natural spring water and were used for generations, demonstrating the Inca’s deep understanding of nature and resources.
Many theories suggest that the Incas were not the first to build Anan Tao. Some scholars believe that Anan Tao may have been built by a pre-Inca civilization and then taken over and developed by the Incas.
They point to differences in construction techniques and the degree of weathering of some of the stone blocks as evidence that these structures may have originated from a lost civilization.
Modern archaeologists explain that the Incas may have used a system of pulleys, levers, and ramps, along with thousands of workers, to move and install the blocks. The precise fitting may have been the result of patience and skill in working and grinding the blocks with hammers and crude abrasives.
Anan Tao is not just a fortress, but also a sacred and important site for the Incas. Many locals believe that these structures are not only a feat of engineering, but also have deep spiritual significance. Legend has it that their ancestors understood nature, mountains, and stars, passing on secrets that the modern world cannot fully understand. These structures are therefore not just architectural monuments, but also symbols of the connection between humans and nature.
