Article Version 10 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Fabrication Methods of the Polygonal Masonry of Large Tightly-fitted Stone Blocks with Curved Surface Interfaces in Megalithic Structures of Peru
Version 1 : Received: 2 August 2021 / Approved: 3 August 2021 / Online: 3 August 2021 (14:55:33 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 9 October 2021 / Approved: 14 October 2021 / Online: 14 October 2021 (15:03:47 CEST)
Version 3 : Received: 22 November 2021 / Approved: 24 November 2021 / Online: 24 November 2021 (12:41:27 CET)
Version 4 : Received: 3 February 2022 / Approved: 4 February 2022 / Online: 4 February 2022 (10:33:08 CET)
Version 5 : Received: 7 March 2022 / Approved: 8 March 2022 / Online: 8 March 2022 (10:58:47 CET)
Version 6 : Received: 14 May 2022 / Approved: 16 May 2022 / Online: 16 May 2022 (12:15:55 CEST)
Version 7 : Received: 4 December 2022 / Approved: 5 December 2022 / Online: 5 December 2022 (14:48:24 CET)
Version 8 : Received: 13 March 2023 / Approved: 14 March 2023 / Online: 14 March 2023 (14:19:00 CET)
Version 9 : Received: 2 October 2023 / Approved: 10 October 2023 / Online: 10 October 2023 (05:31:52 CEST)
Version 10 : Received: 19 February 2024 / Approved: 20 February 2024 / Online: 21 February 2024 (05:13:48 CET)
Version 2 : Received: 9 October 2021 / Approved: 14 October 2021 / Online: 14 October 2021 (15:03:47 CEST)
Version 3 : Received: 22 November 2021 / Approved: 24 November 2021 / Online: 24 November 2021 (12:41:27 CET)
Version 4 : Received: 3 February 2022 / Approved: 4 February 2022 / Online: 4 February 2022 (10:33:08 CET)
Version 5 : Received: 7 March 2022 / Approved: 8 March 2022 / Online: 8 March 2022 (10:58:47 CET)
Version 6 : Received: 14 May 2022 / Approved: 16 May 2022 / Online: 16 May 2022 (12:15:55 CEST)
Version 7 : Received: 4 December 2022 / Approved: 5 December 2022 / Online: 5 December 2022 (14:48:24 CET)
Version 8 : Received: 13 March 2023 / Approved: 14 March 2023 / Online: 14 March 2023 (14:19:00 CET)
Version 9 : Received: 2 October 2023 / Approved: 10 October 2023 / Online: 10 October 2023 (05:31:52 CEST)
Version 10 : Received: 19 February 2024 / Approved: 20 February 2024 / Online: 21 February 2024 (05:13:48 CET)
How to cite: Lapshin, R. Fabrication Methods of the Polygonal Masonry of Large Tightly-fitted Stone Blocks with Curved Surface Interfaces in Megalithic Structures of Peru. Preprints 2021, 2021080087. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202108.0087.v10 Lapshin, R. Fabrication Methods of the Polygonal Masonry of Large Tightly-fitted Stone Blocks with Curved Surface Interfaces in Megalithic Structures of Peru. Preprints 2021, 2021080087. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202108.0087.v10
Abstract
The article suggests methods that allow creating the most complicated type of polygonal masonry existing in Peru. This masonry type consists of large stone blocks weighing from several hundred kilograms to several tons fitted close to each other almost without a gap between complicated curved surfaces over a large area. The work provides a description of techniques, which apparently were used by builders who arrived from Europe. The techniques under discussion are based on the use of a reduced clay model, 3D-pantograph, topography translator and replicas. The use of the topography translator, reduced clay model and pantograph provides not only the unique appearance and high quality of the masonry of large blocks, but also allows to increase productivity of the builders significantly. As mechanisms for coping-scaling three-dimensional objects are known since the beginning of the 18th century, the stone structures under consideration should be approximately dated by this time. The remaining simpler types of the polygonal masonry, when the stones are small or the fitted surfaces are almost flat, or the stones contact each other over a small area, or there are significant gaps between the stones, are quite consistent with the well-known methods of stone processing at that or earlier time and, therefore, they do not require any additional explanations. The Fortress Sacsayhuaman is considered as an example of early star fortresses that has survived to our time. The polygonal structures in Peru, the polygonal Face Towers and polygonal bas-reliefs in Cambodia, the symmetrical statues of pharaohs in Egypt are based on the same construction technologies, working methods, tools and technical contrivances. Therefore, with a high probability one can state that all these monuments were created by the same group of architects, sculptors, builders and could not have appeared before the 17th century.
Keywords
stone block; polygonal masonry; clay model; pantograph; translator; parallelogram mechanism; replica; chisel; hammer; megalith; star fortress; Inca; Cusco; Ollantaytambo; Machu Picchu; Sacsayhuaman; Peru; polygonal bas-relief; polygonal Face Towers; Angkor; Cambodia; symmetrical statue; pharaoh statue; Ramses; Egypt
Subject
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Comments (2)
We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.
Leave a public commentSend a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Commenter:
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: I am one of the author
The Introduction section was structured. A new photography 1 was added to the Introduction section along with the explanatory text. Section “2.10. “Planetary” pantograph for use in construction” was revised and enlarged, new figure 4 was added. Section “2.11. Topography translator based on the double parallelogram mechanism” was revised and enlarged essentially, figure 6 was corrected. New illustrating photography 18 was added to section “3.1. A general bulge of the front side and a swell in its lower part, bosses, cusps/steps at the triple junctions, polygonal bas-relief facing” and figure 7 was corrected. A lot of corrections were made in the text throughout the manuscript. A dozen new references were added.
The corresponding manuscript in Russian “Способы изготовления полигональной кладки из крупных плотно подогнанных каменных блоков с криволинейными поверхностями сопряжения в мегалитических комплексах Перу” is available in the Supplementary Files.
Commenter:
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: I am one of the author