Engineering and Veneration of the Yacumama (Mother Water) in Inca Culture

The Inca culture had a cosmology that included the stars (the sun, the moon, and the stars) and natural resources such as water and soil. These elements were considered divine and were respected by the Inca people, who believed that this respect would be reciprocated with abundant food for their community. From here, perhaps, comes the explanation for the impressive hydraulic works that they constructed, which continue to inspire admiration and ongoing research. These works are not only remarkable for their structural achievements, but also for the reverence they inspire. The veneration brought with it spaces of protection because they represented a source of life and food supply. There are seven hydraulic systems that have gained renewed importance in the twenty-first century due to their technological efficiency in water management. These systems are: (1) High Andean dam systems, (2) platform systems, (3) mound systems, (4) irrigation systems, (5) production systems, (6) aqueduct systems, and (7) storage systems. But a vision of preservation is necessary, which should represent a contribution to the fight against poverty under a multidimensional approach: engineering, agro-ecology, environment, and history. To begin this process, it is essential to systematize and consolidate the existing information on the legacy, based on quantitative and qualitative data, highlighting the technical nature of the work and its importance.