Parts of this site were used to mummify the dead; taking advantage of the dry air and wind currents in areas of the rock carved into slots and chambers. Our guide, Edwin, explains the history and cultural significance of the area as I take this self-portrait and explore.

The massive stone foundation extends deep into the ground -- and these giant, perfectly fitted stones have protected the site through 600+ years of earthquakes. Specially cut 'keystones' hold everything tightly in place -- and the artistry and science used to create this is truly impressive. When the Spanish arrived, they treated this site (and others) as a 'quarry', harvesting the stones for their new buildings -- so much of the original sites were destroyed. But these remaining foundation stones are so large, they just couldn't be moved. How did the Inca cut and place these stones here? Their profound knowledge of stonework and construction is sadly lost to time -- so we can only speculate on how they did it.