This course will now take place on Zoom.
Many people return from a trip to the Peruvian archaeological site of Machu Picchu convinced that what they’ve seen could only have been produced by aliens. It’s more likely that Machu Picchu and other Incan sites were actually built by geologists who were closely attuned to the local geology and who chose their methods of construction opportunistically based on the kinds of rocks that were available at each site. This same understanding of the natural world and how to harness it can be seen in the way the Incans built agricultural terraces, managed their water resources, made astronomical observations and mitigated the risks of natural hazards. It’s amazing what humans can do when not totally distracted by newsfeeds and social media.