The construction of dry stack walls (that is, wall construction
without the use of mortar), has been a feature of human
development for thousands of years. Extraordinary examples of
dry stack stonework can be seen at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico;
cliff dwellings in Arizona and Colorado; Mayan architecture in
Mexico and Central America; and at the Inca city of Machu Picchu
in Peru – to name only a few. These examples show that
prehistoric cultures recognized the importance of durable
construction and, at least in the case of Machu Picchu, the
Incas developed techniques that were capable of surviving
earthquakes. The walls at Machu Picchu are undoubtedly the
finest dry stack construction ever devised. Figure 1: Dry Stack
and Mill Walls The history of dry stack walls in our neck of the
desert may not be as ancient, durable or glamorous as the sites
mentioned, but the region still provides a rich testament to
this type of construction dating from the latter half of the
nineteenth century. These examples owe their u