Saqsaywaman's Megalithic Stones & How They Were Built
The fame of Saqsaywaman rests on its stones. The three-tiered zigzag walls are built from blocks of andesite and limestone so large—and fitted so precisely—that they have puzzled engineers for 500 years.
The three zigzag walls
The iconic defensive walls run in three terraced, zigzag lines about 400 m long. Their largest blocks reach about 8.5 m in height and are estimated to weigh between 100 and 128 tons—comparable to a fully loaded truck stacked several storeys high.
Where the stones came from
Geological analysis shows the andesite and diorite were not local. They were quarried at Waqoto and Rumiqolqa, roughly 15 to 35 km from the site. Moving them across the Andes without wheels, iron tools or draft animals is one of the great unsolved questions of Inca engineering.
Mortar-free polygonal masonry
The blocks are cut into complex polygons and fitted together without mortar, leaning against one another so tightly that a sheet of paper cannot be inserted between them. This flexible, interlocking construction is why the walls have survived centuries of earthquakes.
Theories of how they were moved
No one knows exactly how the Incas placed these megaliths. The most accepted explanations involve log rollers, earthen ramps, agile-fibre ropes and the coordinated labour of tens of thousands of workers. What is certain is the result: a structure that still stands, perfectly balanced, centuries later.
Visitor information last verified: October 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How heavy are the stones of Saqsaywaman?
The largest stones at Saqsaywaman are about 8.5 m tall and are estimated to weigh between 100 and 128 tons. The three zigzag walls are roughly 400 m long.
How were the megalithic stones moved?
The stones were quarried 15–35 km away and moved without wheels, iron or draft animals. Scholars believe the Incas used log rollers, earthen ramps, fibre ropes and tens of thousands of coordinated workers, but the exact method remains debated.
Why don't the walls use mortar?
The blocks are cut into interlocking polygons and lean against each other without mortar. This flexible masonry lets the walls shift slightly during earthquakes and is why they have survived for centuries.