The archeological complex of Moray is located at 33 miles from Cusco, following the road that goes to the Urubamba Valley, to the northwest. From an aerial view, Moray formations seem to be huge hollows, built as enormous and perfect circular amphitheaters. However, being actually there at those amazing pre-Columbian constructions can be one of the most extraordinary experiences while visiting Cusco rand the Sacred Valley of Incas. This is not only because of the impressive landscape. It is also because of the information that you will receive from the expert regional guides about the theories on the origins of Moray, the reason for building it and its functionality during the times of the Inca Empire.
Origins of Moray
Several theories tried to explain the origin of Moray and its amphitheaters. There is a simplistic theory, which appears whenever the human activities are difficult to clarify: an extraterrestrial incursion. A second theory, suggests the hypothesis of a meteorite storm, which produced such huge holes in the ground. Then, the population from the Inca Empire took advantage of those formations for building their amphitheaters. Of course, a third theory attributes the whole construction of Moray's system to the ancient inhabitants of these lands.
Even when the first two assumptions were true, the Incas have had to perform a tremendous job during the excavation of the circular downward platforms around the walls of each hollow. These were built like perfect concentric circles, laid out as terraces 23 feet wide. Some of the hollows reach depths of 500 feet. This alone represents the work of thousands of people during several generations of hard labor.
Moray: the Agriculture Lab of Incas
The first investigators saw the Moray archeological complex as a group of amphitheaters used for performing and musical arts, due to their similitude with the ancient Greeks' structures. However, modern studies have determined the real reason for the existence of these constructions. The Incas used the circular platforms for experimental agriculture. This new perspective is based in several evidences. The construction in descending platforms allowed the creation of microclimates. In fact, the temperature and other indicators in the surface are typical of mountain weather. While descending, the central platforms are surrounded by a subtropical climate. And, if you reach the very bottom, you will be able to experience a tropical weather.
Investigations indicate that these circular constructions were something like an agriculture lab. The Incas used the difference between platforms in order to acclimate their vegetables. By planting potatoes in the surface, for example, and after subsequent progressive transplants to the inferior platforms, season by season, they were capable to adapting the tubers and other vegetal products to the jungle environment. By following similar procedures, the Incas found the method to exchange vegetal food from the mountains to the rainforest and vice versa. This is also one of the multiple evidences of the particular interest of Incas about the environment integrity.
The Moray Unique Experience
The only presence of these unique constructions at 10500 feet of altitude is enough to astonish the visitor. The irrigation channels, the system of stairs to pass from platform to platform, the acoustic quality of the amphitheaters are some of the many wonders that you will be able to enjoy there.
Back in the day, most of the tubers, corn and other crops were generated directly from Moray. Take into consideration that Peru counts with more than 3000 varieties of potatoes, among other impressing numbers of agricultural products, most of which may have been engineered at Moray. Thus, you will be visiting what could be the cradle of modern day crops that are currently consumed all over the world!
This article was written by a Peru Travel expert at Peru travel Now, available to help you custom design your exciting Peru Tours
No comments:
Post a Comment