State of conservation analysis of the Elliptical Wall of the Temple of the Sun in Ingapirca (Ecuador) and its relationship with climate conditions

Abstract

The conservation of cultural heritage in Ecuador is an increasingly complex task, evident for several centuries in the Ingapirca Archaeological Complex and particularly in the Elliptical Wall of the Temple of the Sun. Given the weathering, intensified by its geographic location, this monument presents a high level of deterioration despite much previous research and the execution of conservation actions. Therefore, this research proposes a comprehensive study that relates the deterioration processes of the Elliptical Wall and the climate conditions where it is located. The method of wall stratigraphic reading has been used, complemented by an analysis of condensation and solar gain. The results show that the building comprises nine phases, four in common for all the orientations from 700 AD, which define the property's authenticity, and five characterized by diverse interventions. At least 38 construction, reconstruction, and maintenance activities have been identified in 9 historical-construction phases and ten degradation phases. In addition, all the orientations of the Elliptical Wall reach the dew point at night, given the relative humidity and air temperature levels in the study region. The southern orientation stands out as the surface with the highest frequency of condensation, the lowest solar gain, and the highest percentage of affections. Thus, this study supports that the deterioration of this building has a high correlation with its condensation capacity, which intensifies or reduces depending on the levels of solar capture; the monument will continue to be transformed and even eliminate historic strata due to the irreversible deterioration in different sectors and the current difficulties in mitigating it.