The stone is made of diorite, a hard igneous rock that the Incas shaped using stone tools rather than metal implements.
Its specific geometry serves as the 'keystone' of the wall, providing structural integrity that prevents the collapse of adjacent blocks.
The street name Hatun Rumiyoc translates from Quechua to 'Great Stone Street'.
The wall is a remnant of the pre-colonial Incan palace, which was repurposed as the foundation for the Spanish colonial Archbishop's Palace.
Incan architects utilized a technique called 'tapering,' where stones are slightly wider at the bottom to increase stability.
The stone is legally protected as part of the Cultural Heritage of the Nation of Peru.
The Twelve Angled Stone is a masterpiece of Incan masonry located in the Hatun Rumiyoc wall of the former Palace of Inca Roca. The stone is famous for its intricate 12-cornered design, which fits perfectly into the surrounding mortarless wall without the use of binding agents. This construction technique, known as ashlar, allows the stones to remain stable during seismic activity. The wall currently forms the side of a building that houses the Archbishop's Palace of Cusco. The precision of the joints is so tight that it is impossible to insert a razor blade or paper between the stones. The site demonstrates the advanced understanding of stone-cutting and engineering possessed by the Incan civilization.
Directly in front of the stone, ensuring the full vertical profile of the 12 angles is captured without cropping.
Visit early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the largest tour groups.
Walk the entire length of the wall to observe how the precision of the stone fitting changes across the structure.
Look for the local guard who is typically present to ensure visitors do not touch the stone.
Attempting to touch the stone for photos, as security personnel strictly enforce non-contact rules.
Do not touch, lean on, or climb the wall; this is a protected archaeological site.
