Some of the best stonework from any ancient civilization can be found in their architecture.

The Inca architecture is the most important pre-Columbian architecture and this is also one of the major achievements of the ancient Inca civilization, with some of the finest stone structures of any ancient civilization. Walls with finely cut and shaped stones that are closely placed without mortar are among its beautiful stonework. Even a sheet of paper cannot be placed into the seams because the stones are fitted so precisely. The twelve-angle stone in Cuzco, Peru, is surrounded by twelve other stones and is a remarkable example of advanced Inca construction. The huge stones utilized in Inca structures, some of which weigh over 100 tons, are another striking characteristic. There are a number of hypotheses as to how such enormous stones were carried and placed so precisely. There is, however, no clear explanation. Because the Incas lived in an earthquake-prone area, their structures have unrivaled seismic resistance due to their great static and dynamic stability, as well as the lack of resonance frequencies and stress concentration areas. For over 500 years, they have shown to be earthquake-resistant.