Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Rodriguez-Pascua M. A., Escobar C. B., Guevara L. R., Grutzner C., Audin Laurence, Walker R., Garcia B., Aguirre E. (2020). Did earthquakes strike Machu Picchu ?. Journal of Seismology, 24 (4), 883-895. ISSN 1383-4649.

Titre du document
Did earthquakes strike Machu Picchu ?
Année de publication
2020
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000491412400001
Auteurs
Rodriguez-Pascua M. A., Escobar C. B., Guevara L. R., Grutzner C., Audin Laurence, Walker R., Garcia B., Aguirre E.
Source
Journal of Seismology, 2020, 24 (4), 883-895 ISSN 1383-4649
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Cusco, Peru) is one of the most important archaeological monuments in Peru and worldwide. Machu Picchu is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site and at risk from climatic change. However, the seismic centennial history of Peru reports large earthquakes generated both along the subduction zone (Mw8) and on active crustal faults along the Andean Cordillera (Mw7). It is therefore important to know if Machu Picchu is located in an area of seismic hazard and then to take measures to mitigate potential seismic hazards. Due to the short historical earthquake catalogue (< 500 years) and the absence of significant recent instrumental seismicity in the site's vicinity (radius of < 30 km), our knowledge about the seismic hazard in Machu Picchu is limited. The earthquakes of 1650 and 1950 affected Cusco city and surrounding areas, but without damage descriptions in Machu Picchu (80 km away) (Silgado Ferro 1978). In this study, we make the first attempt to use the analysis of earthquake archaeological effects (EAEs) and their differentiation from the effects generated by slope movements (creep) to investigate the past occurrence of strong earthquakes at the site. The application of geological structural analysis to the deformations observed in Machu Picchu shows two directions of the mean ground movement: N020 degrees E and N110 degrees E. Two earthquakes that affected Machu Picchu during its construction generated these directions. This kind of data should be used in the future to protect this important archaeological site.
Plan de classement
Géologie et formations superficielles [064] ; Géophysique interne [066] ; Sociétés, développement culturel [112]
Description Géographique
PEROU ; ANDES
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010077175]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010077175
Contact