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Inca Rope bridges were simple Suspension Bridge s over canyons and gorges to provide access for the Inca Empire . Bridges of this type were suitable for use since the Inca people did not use wheeled transport - traffic was limited to pedestrians and livestock. These bridges were an intrinsic part on the Inca Road System and are an excellent example of Inca innovation in engineering. They were frequently used by Chasqui runners delivering messages throughout the Inca Empire. The construction of these bridges amounted to a pair of stone anchors on each side of the canyon with massive cables of woven Ichu Grass linking these two pylons together. Adding to this construction, two additional cables acted as guardrails. The cables which supported the foot-path were reinforced with Plaited Branches . This multi-structure system made these bridges strong enough to even carry the Spaniards while riding horses after they arrived. However, these massive bridges were so heavy that they tended to sag in the middle, and this caused them to sway in high winds. Part of the bridge's strength and reliability came from the fact that each cable was replaced every year by local villagers as part of their Mita public service or obligation. In some instances, these local peasants had the sole task of maintaining and repairing these bridges so that the Inca highways or road systems could continue to function. The greatest bridges of this kind resided in the Apurimac Canyon along the main road north from Cuzco . These bridges spread in length across the 220 feet (67 m) canyon and are 118 feet (36 m) above the river. Overall, these bridges allowed Inca Chasqui runners to take more direct routes through the region's mountains and this helped to complete the Inca Highway System . RENEWING THE LAST BRIDGE After a full year of use the last Inca grass-rope bridge sags and must be replaced for safety. Even though there is a modern bridge nearby the folk in the region keep the ancient tradition and skills alive by renewing the bridge. Several family groups have each prepared a number of grass-ropes to be formed into cables at the site, others have prepared mats for decking, and the reconstruction is a communal effort. In ancient times the effort would have been a form of tax, with participants coerced to perform the rebuilding; nowadays the builders have indicated that effort is performed to honor their ancestors and the Pachamama (Earth Mother). The event has also been supported by video productions for Nova and the BBC and is becoming a minor tourist attraction, with some small tolls charged for tourists use the road during the festival to walk the newly completed bridge. There is, however, no consistent or guaranteed support for these efforts and tourism remains a relatively minor motivation for the bridge rebuilding. |
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