South America's Megalithic Age!

TL;DR

The episode argues that South America’s contrasting building styles point to multiple construction periods and that some megalithic work may predate the Inca. It examines sites across Peru and Bolivia alongside Sir Clements Robert Markham’s roughly 60 years of research, firsthand travel, primary-source study, and contact with Indigenous record keepers. Read on to see how architecture and historical accounts are used to build this case.

Transcript

hello all my name is Ben and this is uncharted X in several previous videos on this channel we've explored the origins of South America's ancient and mysterious megalithic ruins and architecture ruins that are found across many sites in the regions of modern-day Peru and Bolivia particularly in the highlands that are defined by the sprawling and mi... Read More

Key Insights

• 😥 The megalithic ruins in South America point to the existence of an advanced civilization that predates the Inca.
• 👷 The disparity in architectural styles and advanced masonry techniques suggest multiple periods of construction and civilizations.
• 🇧🇴 Ancient texts and accounts from early explorers indicate that the Inca were not responsible for the megalithic architecture found in Peru and Bolivia.

Questions & Answers

Q: What does South America’s megalithic architecture suggest about its ancient history?

The episode argues that the sharp contrast between massive polygonal masonry and rough walls of loosely shaped small stones suggests multiple periods of construction. It presents the finer megalithic work as evidence for an older and more technologically advanced history than one attributed solely to the Inca.

Q: Why does the episode question whether the Inca built all the megalithic ruins?

The narrator says the Inca occupied and worked on the ancient sites but argues that much of the megalithic architecture appears beyond their known capabilities. The different forms of stonework are presented as evidence against assigning every structure to a single civilization.

Q: Where are the megalithic ruins discussed in the episode?

The ruins are located across sites in modern-day Peru and Bolivia, particularly in the Andean highlands. The episode names Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Tiwanaku, and Machu Picchu as examples.

Q: What architectural differences does the episode identify?

It contrasts flowing shapes carved into monolithic living rock and massive polygonal masonry walls with rough walls made from loosely shaped small stone blocks. The narrator argues that this disparity reflects very different levels of technological capability.

Q: How are the finest stone structures commonly classified by modern scholars?

According to the episode, fine megalithic work is often labeled “Imperial Inca” to distinguish it from the inferior masonry surrounding it. The narrator also mentions an “organic style” explanation in which the Inca are understood to encompass all forms of stonework at these sites.

Q: Who was Sir Clements Robert Markham?

Markham was an English author, traveler, and researcher born in 1830 who began his career in the Royal Navy. He later served as secretary and president of the Royal Geographical Society, and Mount Markham in Antarctica was named after him.

Q: How did Clements Robert Markham research Andean history?

His research on South America spanned roughly 60 years and included long periods of firsthand investigation in the region. He studied scarce texts and primary sources, engaged with Indigenous record keepers and Inca descendants, and corresponded with native Peruvian experts for decades.

Q: What criticism did Markham make about earlier histories of South America?

In the introduction to his book “Cusco and Lima,” first published in 1856, Markham criticized authors for concentrating on Spanish deeds while neglecting the history that preceded the conquest. The episode also says he faulted them for lacking firsthand experience in the region.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• South America's ancient megalithic ruins in Peru and Bolivia display remarkable architectural designs, distinct from the primitive style associated with the Inca.

• Scholars have often attributed these ruins to the Inca civilization, but evidence suggests a more advanced and older civilization existed before the Inca.

• Clements Robert Markham, an explorer and researcher, spent 60 years studying ancient South American civilizations and believed that the megalithic architecture pointed to an advanced and far older history.