Machu Picchu is one of the seven wonders of the world located between two Andean peaks in northwest Cusco, Peru. This ancient Incan city made of granite quarry is over 500 years old. It once belonged to the great Incan Empire that stretched more than 4,000 kilometers from Ecuador to Chile–nearly as wide as the continental U.S. Machu Picchu is one of the only standing and well-preserved remains of one of the most expansive empires in history. Communities around Machu Picchu were all aware of this place, but outsiders knew nothing about it, the world didn’t even know such a place existed for hundreds of years. In the 16th century, when the Spanish attacked the Incas, they never saw a glimpse of Machu Picchu. Later on, in the early 20th century, a farmer named Melchor Arteaga introduced Machu Picchu to the outside world as he showed a professor at Yale–Hiram Bingham. Bingham introduced Machu Picchu to the world in 1911. Bingham and his fellow explorers also spent many years exploring this spectacular place. Until today, Machu Picchu is still one of the most important archeological sites in the world–testifying the power and wisdom of what was once one of the greatest empires in the Americas. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization also announced Machu Picchu as a world heritage site in 1983, allowing people from all over the world to come and admire one of the greatest fascinations on Earth.
Structure
Judging by the structures and building techniques when this was built in the 15th century, the Incas were great engineers. Every single part of the city is made of stone and without the use of iron or steel tools such as wheels or pickaxes. Usually, when a building or wall was built from stone or bricks, the pieces were joined together with mortar–a wet clay-like material that binds stone or bricks together when dried. However, the structures of Machu Picchu contain none of this, every piece of stone is cut precisely so they fit together perfectly. Since Machu Picchu is built in the middle of two fault lines, earthquakes are relatively common. But due to the way these walls and structures are built, the pieces of stone make a bouncing motion during an earthquake then fall back together as if nothing had happened. This is what kept Machu Picchu standing after 500 years.
Purpose
For many years, scientists and archaeologists have been searching for the purpose of Machu Picchu–why it was built. So far no one really knows its objective, but there are many theories and hypotheses. Some of the most popular theories are a ceremonial site, a military stronghold, and a retreat for nobility. The placing of many of these structures (both man-made and natural) is also peculiar because they line up with astronomical events.
Desertion
In the early 16th century, around 100 years after Machu Picchu was built, the whole place was abandoned. Still, no one knows why such an extraordinary site was deserted only a century after it’s been built. The Incas had no records because they had no written language, so there is no legitimate explanation of why Machu Picchu was built, how it was built, and why the Incas abandoned it. Despite how much the world is intrigued by this masterpiece, there are still tons of mysteries about Machu Picchu that may never be solved.
Written by The Lost Man
The Anonymous Helpers (TAH)