Biological Deterioration of an Inca Monument at High Altitude in the Andean Range: A Case Study from Ingapirca's Temple of the Sun (Ecuador)

Scientific studies concerning the causes and consequences of the biodeterioration of stone monuments located at high altitudes in permanently cold, mountainous regions are scarce. For that reason, this study aimed to detect and identify the bacteria involved in the deterioration of this type of monument. To achieve this goal, we focused on the most important archeological Inca site in the Ecuadorian Andes: Ingapirca's Temple of the Sun, built approximately 500 years ago at 3.100 m.a.s.l. We first examined the stone surfaces of the temple by scanning electron microscopy and showed the detrimental impact on the mineral structure of the green andesite mineral used to build the temple, caused by crustose lichen thalli and heterotrophic bacteria. Then, we isolated, characterized, and identified several of these bacteria. Most of them multiplied at a wide range of temperatures, from 4 degrees C to 30 degrees C, and were thus considered eurypsychrophiles. Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria species dominated the culturable fraction of this community. Several isolates produced metabolites that solubilized mineral phosphates at low temperatures; others solubilized iron-containing mineral fractions in the green andesite rock when tested in vitro. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report related to the biodeterioration of an Inca monument at such an altitude in the Andes range.

Automated summary

Scientific studies on the biodeterioration of stone monuments at high altitudes in permanently cold mountainous regions are lacking. This study focuses specifically on the Inca site Ingapirca's Temple of the Sun in the Ecuadorian Andes, aiming to identify the bacteria responsible for the deterioration of this type of monument. The researchers discovered the detrimental impact of crustose lichen thalli and heterotrophic bacteria on the mineral structure of the green andesite mineral used in the construction of the temple. Several bacteria species were isolated, characterized, and identified, with Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria dominating the culturable fraction of the community. This study is the first report on the biodeterioration of an Inca monument at such a high altitude in the Andes range.