Machu Picchu: terraces connecting construction with the mountain

Useful to know

Machu Picchu combines walls, terraces and ramps in Peru’s mountain setting. The relationship between constructed structures and steep terrain is central to understanding it. [1]

Trace the sequence of levels beyond the familiar panorama. A terrace is shaped space rather than an incidental natural step. Claims about a particular part’s function need documentation, not merely its silhouette.