The great architectural dominance of the ancient Inca civilization is one of the aspects that continue to baffle academics around the world. And one of the mysterious wonders that are lost in time is the ruins of a building called Hatun Rumiyoc. It was built with huge polygonal stones, carved and fitted with extraordinary precision. It was one of the most incredible constructions of ancient Cusco and today only its walls remain standing. In its walls, you can find some hidden wonders such as the shapes of local animals integrated into the structure or the wonderful twelve angle stone. And together with the travel experts of Machu Travel Peru, we have prepared a small article with all the main details of this incredible stone.

All you need to know about the Hatunrumiyoc and the twelve angle stone in Cusco city

WHAT IS THE TWELVE ANGLED STONE?

The twelve angle stone of Hatunrumiyoc in Cusco is one of the most sophisticated examples of Inca ingenuity. It is made up of about 12 angles that fit perfectly into the adjacent wall. This majestic stone was laid by the Incas more than 700 years ago. The rock is made up of igneous rock of green diorite, is about six feet deep, and weighs more than six tons. Behind this stone, a much deeper meaning is hidden since it is believed that it represents the division of the 24 families of Cusco (12 families during the Hurin dynasty and another 12 during the Hanan dynasty). The twelve angle stone was originally part of the Roca Inca Palace, but starting in the early 20th century it became part of the Archbishop’s palace. Today it is one of the many attractions of Cusco to visit along with the various archaeological ruins around.

HISTORY OF THE STONE

The twelve angled stone is a rock embedded within an ancient Inca wall and is considered one of the most representative figures of perfection in Andean culture. The twelve angle stone has become a historical and cultural element within Cusco. The stone demonstrates the advanced architectural and technological level for its time, with an awareness of anti-seismic structures. Sadly, the history surrounding this ancient stone can get a bit confusing. It is known that the stone belonged to the Inca Roca palace until the arrival of the Spanish. Then a beautiful colonial building was built on the foundations of the palace. Later, it would become the Museum of Religious Art of the city of Cusco and the Archbishop’s Palace. The immense and solid wall has gained a notorious popularity today, becoming one of the many things to do around Cusco. Today it is one of the most pH๏τographed attractions of the beautiful Imperial City.

WHERE TO FIND IT?

The amazing twelve angle stone is located within the city of Cusco, on Hatun Rumiyoc street, approximately 500 meters from the Plaza de Armas. This stone is part of one of the main walls of the Archbishop’s Palace and the Museum of Religious Art. You can easily get to it from the famous Plaza de Armas. If you go up to Triunfo Street you will head towards Hatun Rumiyoc Street, which is known for being full of handicrafts, clothing, and jewelry stores. From there, it is easy to distinguish the twelve angle stone. Within our Cusco travel tips, we highly recommend acclimatizing a little before embarking on a tour of the city.

HOW TO VISIT THE TWELVE ANGLE STONE

You can visit the twelve angle stone as part of a free walking tour of Cusco. These usually depart several times a day from the nearby Plaza de Armas. But if group tours are not usually your thing, on a private Cusco city tour you can enjoy a tour of the main attractions of the Imperial City, including the twelve angle stone. Together with a certified tour guide, you will be able to decipher the confusing history of this enigmatic stone. It is better that you know that it is forbidden to touch the stone and the Inca wall. You will be able to take infinite pH๏τos but always with respect and conscience.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS AROUND

Fortunately, the twelve angle stone is strategically located in the historic center of the city, making it a popular stop within the different city tours. Being within the tourist route of numerous journeys, you will have the opportunity to visit other incredible attractions of the city. Like the beautiful San Blas neighborhood, one of the most popular regions for young people and artists. Or also the popular San Pedro market, where you can enjoy the traditional flavor of Cusco. Even the different museums in Cusco are a great alternative to learn about the history and culture of the city. In conclusion, within Cusco, you will find much more than the enigmatic twelve angled stone… and we, of course, recommend taking a look at the different tours in Peru.

“DON’T LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY. GO SEE.”

We hope together with Machu Travel Peru to have clarified the most important aspects of this stone. You can visit the stone whenever you want since it is one of the most accessible and easy attractions to visit. If you want to start organizing some type of private tour, you can consult with our qualified advisers.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.

Work To World

The Twelve Angled Stone in Cusco

WHAT IS THE TWELVE ANGLED STONE?

HISTORY OF THE STONE

WHERE TO FIND IT?

HOW TO VISIT THE TWELVE ANGLE STONE

OTHER ATTRACTIONS AROUND

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

WHAT IS THE TWELVE ANGLED STONE?

HISTORY OF THE STONE

WHERE TO FIND IT?

HOW TO VISIT THE TWELVE ANGLE STONE

OTHER ATTRACTIONS AROUND

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

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