Machu Picchu: Secrets of the Inca Empire

Study Notes

Machu Picchu: A Lost City's Secrets

Machu Picchu is a remarkable ancient city high in the Peruvian Andes, built without iron tools or the wheel.
Its design features stunning stonework, fountains, temples, and terraces.
The city's purpose and abandonment remain mysteries.

Machu Picchu's Builders: The Inca

The Inca, a powerful empire in the mid-1400s, were master builders who created an extensive road network and impressive structures in the Andes.
They built elaborate terraces and canals without the wheel or iron.
They used knotted strings called khipu for record-keeping; Spanish accounts provide biased perspectives on their history.
The Inca Empire lasted only about 100 years, ending due to disease, civil war, and the Spanish conquest.
The last Inca emperor took refuge in the lost city of Vilcabamba, but its location wasn't recorded, leading to exploration.

Hiram Bingham's Discovery

Hiram Bingham, an American explorer, discovered Machu Picchu on July 24, 1911.
Bingham initially believed it was Vilcabamba.
Early analysis of burials, mistakenly thought to be "Virgins of the Sun," misrepresented the site's purpose.

Re-evaluation of the Site

Later analysis by John Verano revealed that the sex ratio of skeletons found at Machu Picchu was mostly equal, not disproportionately female.
Re-analysis challenged Bingham's theory, suggesting the burial site wasn't connected to the "Virgins of the Sun" or a Spanish desecration.

Clues from Patallacta

Archaeological work in Patallacta, a nearby farming town, suggests the importance of agricultural resources, possibly supporting Machu Picchu's inhabitants.
A recently discovered tomb contains the potential remains of builders and workers for the site.
Excavated skeletons show signs of injury (blunt force trauma), suggesting potential warfare.
Analysis of skulls reveals trepanation, a practice used to treat head injuries.

Machu Picchu's Royal Connection

New evidence suggests that Pachacuti, the first Inca emperor (who means "He who remakes the world"), was the driving force behind Machu Picchu's construction.
Evidence from colonial records and architectural similarities support Pachacuti's involvement.
Machu Picchu's engineering feats were significant, including underground drainage to handle heavy rainfall and the need for terracing to make slopes useable for agriculture.

The Sacred Landscape Theory

Inca belief systems centered on revering the mountains, rivers, and the sun as deities, influencing site selection.
The unique alignment with surrounding sacred features of Machu Picchu suggests it was developed based on the sacred landscape theory.
The location's proximity to water sources greatly influenced its layout.

The Identity of the Burials

Isotopic analysis determined a high percentage of carbon-13 isotopes (corn), implying that these people were not laborers, royalty, or soldiers, but servants instead.
Evidence suggests they were a class between laborers and royalty.

Machu Picchu's Purpose and Preservation

Machu Picchu's purpose likely included a royal retreat, a religious centre, and a military display.
The Spaniard's avoidance of damaging Machu Picchu might be attributed to the lack of easily visible clues of its prominence.
The site's inaccessibility and perceived unimportance possibly contributed to its preservation during the Spanish conquest.

Pachacuti's Role and Influence

Pachacuti's conquests and reign are linked to Machu Picchu's initial impetus.
The Spanish chronicles confirm the value Pachacuti placed on construction and creation of imperial structures.
His role as an expansionist leader is strongly linked to the construction.

Abandonment of Machu Picchu

The Inca Empire's weakening from disease, civil war, and Spanish Conquest gradually caused people to abandon the city, likely after royalty had lost their power.
Decline in visits combined with the lost importance of the site may have led to its gradual abandonment.

Description

Explore the mysteries of Machu Picchu, an ancient city built by the Inca in the Peruvian Andes. Discover its remarkable stonework, the purpose behind its construction, and the legends surrounding its abandonment. Learn about the Inca civilization's achievements and Hiram Bingham's pivotal discovery.