Inca ushnus: landscape, site and symbol in the Andes

Video

For three years, a research team from the British Museum, the University of Reading, Royal Holloway University of London and the Universidad Nacional de San Cristobal de Huamanga set out to discover how the Inca Empire used a stone platform known as an ushnu as a symbol of political power.

By enhancing our knowledge of how ushnus were built, their symbolism, what activities took place on them and what artefacts might be found around them, the project has increased our understanding of Inca culture and how they conquered the Andes to become one of the world's most successful civilisations.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/research_projects/complete_projects/featured_project_inca_ushnus.aspx