The Renewal Ceremony of the Q’eswachaca Bridge

Every year in mid-June, the residents of four villages in the province of Canas (Cusco) gather for the renewal ceremony of the Q’eswachaca Bridge, a structure dating back to the Inca era. This bridge stands as the last surviving suspended bridge with Incan origins, constructed entirely from ropes made of plant fibers. Spanning the banks of the Apurimac River, nestled in the Andes at an altitude of 12,139 feet above sea level (3,700 meters), this ancient bridge serves as a testament to both the engineering prowess of the Incas and the enduring spirit of the local communities.

The ceremony commences with offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth), after which the villagers, strictly adhering to ancient techniques, reconstruct the bridge. The construction of such a bridge is entirely a manual endeavor. Preserving this monument of pre-Spanish Andean engineering becomes possible thanks to knowledge passed down for over 600 years from fathers to sons.

 Based on: http://www.arqueologiadelperu.com/?p=3861

Photo: © Isaiah Brookshire