The name Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” or “Old Peak” in the Quechua language. The Quechea history goes back further than the Inca and you’ll find many ruins in Peru named in this language.
Machu Picchu, with a height of nearly 8,000 feet above sea level nestled in the Andes Mountains, was used by the Inca as an astronomical observatory. The Inca placed a huge emphasis on astronomy; it helped them know when to plant their crops and when to harvest. The Intihuatana stone found at Machu Picchu acted as an astrological clock and was used in ceremonies.
No mortar was used in the construction of Machu Picchu, instead, a special technique called ashlar was used. Ashlar involved cutting stones so precisely that they lay on top of each other with no space between them. You can’t even slide a piece of paper between them. The Inca knew how to build! Machu Picchu is in between two fault lines so the Inca built it to be earthquake proof. They accomplished this through ashlar, using trapezoidal-shaped doors and windows, inward inclining walls, and bracing blocks.
