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Inca rope bridge

January 05, 2023

Incana rope bridges are simple suspension bridges over canyons , gorges and rivers (pongos) constructed by the Inca Empire. The bridges were an integral part of the Inca road system and exemplify Inca innovation in engineering. Bridges of this type were useful since the Inca people did not use wheeled transport – traffic was limited to pedestrians and livestock – and they were frequently used by chasqui runners delivering messages throughout the Inca Empire.[1]

Incana Rope Bridge
The annually reconstructed Queshuachaca ("rope bridge") in the Quehue District is the last of its kind.
AncestorRope bridge
RelatedNone
DescendantSimple suspension bridge
CarriesPedestrians, livestock
Span rangeShort
MaterialGrass or other fiber rope, appropriate decking material
MovableNo
Design effortAdvanced for its time
Falsework requiredNo

Construction and maintenance

The bridges were constructed using ichu grass[2] woven into large bundles which were very strong. Part of the bridge's strength and reliability came from the fact that each cable was replaced every year by local villagers[3] as part of their mit'a public service or obligation. In some instances,[citation needed] these local peasants had the sole task of repairing these bridges so that the Inca highways or road systems could continue to function. Repairing these bridges was dangerous, with those performing repairs often facing death.

In 1615, in Quechua author Huamán Poma's manuscript The First New Chronicle, Poma illustrates the Guambo rope bridge in use. He describes the masonry bridges as a positive result of the Spanish colonization of Peru, as the new bridges prevented deaths from the dangerous repair work.[4]

Famous examples

The greatest bridges of this kind were in the Apurímac Canyon along the main road north from Cusco;[5] a famous example spans a 45-meter gap[6] that is supposed to be the inspiration behind Thornton Wilder's 1928 Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927).

Made of grass, the last remaining Inca rope bridge, reconstructed every June, is the Q'iswa Chaka (Quechua for "rope bridge"), spanning the Apurimac River near Huinchiri, in Canas Province, Quehue District, Peru. Even though there is a modern bridge nearby, the residents of the region keep the ancient tradition and skills alive by renewing the bridge annually in June. Several family groups have each prepared a number of grass-ropes to be formed into cables at the site; others prepare mats for decking, and the reconstruction is a communal effort. The builders have indicated that effort is performed to honor their ancestors and the Pachamama (Earth Mother).[7]

  •  
    The old bridge sags
    (Slide show)
  •  
    Notice how much less the new bridge sags
  •  
    Builders gather during the renewal
  •  
    Preparing side lashings
  •  
    Main cable and hand-ropes are in place
  •  
    Lashing the hand-ropes to the main side cables.
  •  
    Trimmed mat rolls form the bridge deck.
  •  
    The new bridge is now complete and in use.
  •  
    Bridge in use during the rainy season.

See also

References

  1. ^ Brown, Dale (1992). Incas: Lords of Gold and Glory. New York: Time-Life Books. pp. 98. ISBN 0-8094-9870-7.
  2. ^ Atlas Obscura (June 10, 2013). "The Last Incan Suspension Bridge Is Made Entirely of Grass and Woven by Hand". Slate. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  3. ^ Squier, Ephraim George (1877). Peru: Incidents of Travel and Exploration in the Land of the Incas. New York: Harper Bros. p. 545. Each bridge is usually kept up by the municipality of the nearest village; and as it requires renewal every two or three years..."
  4. ^ Brown, Dale (1992). Incas: Lords of Gold and Glory. New York: Time-Life Books. pp. 68. ISBN 0-8094-9870-7.
  5. ^ Leonard, Jonathan Norton (1968). 'Ancient America', Great Ages of Man Series. Time/Life Books. p. 185.
  6. ^ Squier, Ephraim George (1877). "The Great Hanging Bridge Over the Apurimac". Peru: Incidents of Travel and Exploration in the Land of the Incas. New York: Harper Bros.
  7. ^ Foer, Joshua (February 22, 2011). "The Last Incan Grass Bridge". Slate.

Bibliography

  • Chmielinski, Piotr (1987). "Kayaking the Amazon". National Geographic Magazine. 171 (4): 460–473.
  • Finch, Ric (2002). Keshwa Chaca: Straw Bridge of the Incas. South American Explorer. Ithaca, NY. pp. 6–13.
  • Gade, D. W. (1972). "Bridge types in the central Andes". Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 62 (1): 94–109. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8306.1972.tb00846.x. Showed the bridge at Huinchiri and predicted the art of building it would be lost within another generation, which proved untrue.
  • Hurtado, Ursula (publication date unknown). "Q'eshwachaka: El Puente Dorado". Credibank. Peru). pp. 22–23. Describes the documentary film directed by Jorge Carmona.
  • Malaga Miglio, Patricia, & Gutierrez, Alberto (publication date unknown). "Qishwachaca". Rumbos. Peru. pp. 30–34.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  • McIntyre, Loren (1973). "The Lost Empire of the Incas". National Geographic Magazine. Vol. 144, no. 6. pp. 729–787.
  • McIntyre, Loren (1975). The Incredible Incas and Their Timeless Land. Washington D.C.: National Geographic Society. ISBN 9780870441776.
  • Roca Basadre, David & Coaguila, Jorge, eds. (2001). Cañon delApurimac, La Ruta Sagrada del Dios Hablador. Lima: Empresa Editora ElComercio. p. 78.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  • "Secrets of Lost Empires: Inca". Nova. PBS. 1995.
  • Von Hagen, Victor (1955). Highway of the Sun. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce. p. 120.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Incan rope bridges.
  • "Inca Bridge to the past". Boston University. March 21, 2003.
  • "Inca Bridges, a Library of Congress lecture". Library of Congress.
  • "Inca Roads and Chasquis]". Discover-Peru.org.
  • Klosterman, Doug (Photographer). "Slideshow of Keshwa Chaca (Inca rope bridge construction near Huinchiri, Peru)". dojoklo.com.
  • "The Last Inca Suspension Bridge: A Photo Album". Rutahsa Adventures adventure travel.

January 05, 2023
inca, rope, bridge, incana, rope, bridges, simple, suspension, bridges, over, canyons, gorges, rivers, pongos, constructed, inca, empire, bridges, were, integral, part, inca, road, system, exemplify, inca, innovation, engineering, bridges, this, type, were, us. Incana rope bridges are simple suspension bridges over canyons gorges and rivers pongos constructed by the Inca Empire The bridges were an integral part of the Inca road system and exemplify Inca innovation in engineering Bridges of this type were useful since the Inca people did not use wheeled transport traffic was limited to pedestrians and livestock and they were frequently used by chasqui runners delivering messages throughout the Inca Empire 1 Incana Rope BridgeThe annually reconstructed Queshuachaca rope bridge in the Quehue District is the last of its kind AncestorRope bridgeRelatedNoneDescendantSimple suspension bridgeCarriesPedestrians livestockSpan rangeShortMaterialGrass or other fiber rope appropriate decking materialMovableNoDesign effortAdvanced for its timeFalsework requiredNo Contents 1 Construction and maintenance 2 Famous examples 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksConstruction and maintenance EditThe bridges were constructed using ichu grass 2 woven into large bundles which were very strong Part of the bridge s strength and reliability came from the fact that each cable was replaced every year by local villagers 3 as part of their mit a public service or obligation In some instances citation needed these local peasants had the sole task of repairing these bridges so that the Inca highways or road systems could continue to function Repairing these bridges was dangerous with those performing repairs often facing death In 1615 in Quechua author Huaman Poma s manuscript The First New Chronicle Poma illustrates the Guambo rope bridge in use He describes the masonry bridges as a positive result of the Spanish colonization of Peru as the new bridges prevented deaths from the dangerous repair work 4 Famous examples EditThe greatest bridges of this kind were in the Apurimac Canyon along the main road north from Cusco 5 a famous example spans a 45 meter gap 6 that is supposed to be the inspiration behind Thornton Wilder s 1928 Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey 1927 Made of grass the last remaining Inca rope bridge reconstructed every June is the Q iswa Chaka Quechua for rope bridge spanning the Apurimac River near Huinchiri in Canas Province Quehue District Peru Even though there is a modern bridge nearby the residents of the region keep the ancient tradition and skills alive by renewing the bridge annually in June Several family groups have each prepared a number of grass ropes to be formed into cables at the site others prepare mats for decking and the reconstruction is a communal effort The builders have indicated that effort is performed to honor their ancestors and the Pachamama Earth Mother 7 The old bridge sags Slide show Notice how much less the new bridge sags Builders gather during the renewal Preparing side lashings Main cable and hand ropes are in place Lashing the hand ropes to the main side cables Trimmed mat rolls form the bridge deck The new bridge is now complete and in use Bridge in use during the rainy season See also Edit Civilizations portalCarrick a Rede Rope Bridge a rope suspension bridge in Northern Ireland Inca Bridge rope bridge secret entrance to Machu Picchu Simple suspension bridge see the image of the Inca rope bridge built with modern materials and structural refinements Suspension bridge modern suspended deck typeReferences Edit Brown Dale 1992 Incas Lords of Gold and Glory New York Time Life Books pp 98 ISBN 0 8094 9870 7 Atlas Obscura June 10 2013 The Last Incan Suspension Bridge Is Made Entirely of Grass and Woven by Hand Slate Retrieved April 10 2018 Squier Ephraim George 1877 Peru Incidents of Travel and Exploration in the Land of the Incas New York Harper Bros p 545 Each bridge is usually kept up by the municipality of the nearest village and as it requires renewal every two or three years Brown Dale 1992 Incas Lords of Gold and Glory New York Time Life Books pp 68 ISBN 0 8094 9870 7 Leonard Jonathan Norton 1968 Ancient America Great Ages of Man Series Time Life Books p 185 Squier Ephraim George 1877 The Great Hanging Bridge Over the Apurimac Peru Incidents of Travel and Exploration in the Land of the Incas New York Harper Bros Foer Joshua February 22 2011 The Last Incan Grass Bridge Slate Bibliography EditChmielinski Piotr 1987 Kayaking the Amazon National Geographic Magazine 171 4 460 473 Finch Ric 2002 Keshwa Chaca Straw Bridge of the Incas South American Explorer Ithaca NY pp 6 13 Gade D W 1972 Bridge types in the central Andes Annals of the Association of American Geographers 62 1 94 109 doi 10 1111 j 1467 8306 1972 tb00846 x Showed the bridge at Huinchiri and predicted the art of building it would be lost within another generation which proved untrue Hurtado Ursula publication date unknown Q eshwachaka El Puente Dorado Credibank Peru pp 22 23 Describes the documentary film directed by Jorge Carmona Malaga Miglio Patricia amp Gutierrez Alberto publication date unknown Qishwachaca Rumbos Peru pp 30 34 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link McIntyre Loren 1973 The Lost Empire of the Incas National Geographic Magazine Vol 144 no 6 pp 729 787 McIntyre Loren 1975 The Incredible Incas and Their Timeless Land Washington D C National Geographic Society ISBN 9780870441776 Roca Basadre David amp Coaguila Jorge eds 2001 Canon delApurimac La Ruta Sagrada del Dios Hablador Lima Empresa Editora ElComercio p 78 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link Secrets of Lost Empires Inca Nova PBS 1995 Von Hagen Victor 1955 Highway of the Sun New York Duell Sloan and Pearce p 120 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Incan rope bridges Inca Bridge to the past Boston University March 21 2003 Inca Bridges a Library of Congress lecture Library of Congress Inca Roads and Chasquis Discover Peru org Klosterman Doug Photographer Slideshow of Keshwa Chaca Inca rope bridge construction near Huinchiri Peru dojoklo com The Last Inca Suspension Bridge A Photo Album Rutahsa Adventures adventure travel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Inca rope bridge amp oldid 1124855474, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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