What term describes the practice of fitting massive stone blocks without cement, used in a Peruvian city?

• A. Moche civilization
• B. Islamic Art
• C. Inca Masonry
• D. Pop Art

Answer: (C)

This question tests the term for the ancient Peruvian building technique of fitting massive stone blocks together without cement. Builders cut stones so they interlock with extremely tight, often polygonal joints and raise walls without any mortar. This Inca masonry creates surfaces that look seamless and are remarkably durable, able to endure seismic movement thanks to precise fits and irregular shapes that grip one another. You can see these characteristic walls in sites around Cusco, such as Sacsayhuamán, where the stonework demonstrates this distinctive dry-stone, interlocking approach. The other options don’t fit because one pertains to a culture known for adobe and different building methods, another to a broad Islamic art tradition focused on patterns rather than architectural technique, and the last to a modern art movement unrelated to ancient construction.