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Concept

Inca masonry

A stone structure with polygonal joints and an open doorway stands against a backdrop of mountains and a cloudy sky, showcasing Inca masonry techniques.

The Andean stoneworking tradition refined under the Inca state between roughly 1400 and 1532. Defined by mortarless construction, slight inward batter, and polygonal joints in which each block is hand-fitted to its unique neighbours. Two styles coexist: cyclopean polygonal walls at imperial sites such as Sacsayhuamán, and finer rectangular ashlar coursing at temples and royal palaces.

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