Machu Picchu: An ancient city with marvellous architecture
As far as world heritage sites are concerned, Machu Picchu is quite famous! This ancient city, also known as ‘the lost city of Incas’ is located in Peru, South America. But how did this ancient city come to the limelight? Well, let us demystify it for you. This city was discovered by a Yale archaeologist, Hiram Bingham, in 1911. Along with his team, Hiram was on an expedition to find the lost city of Vilcabamba. During this search, they met a local farmer who told them about the old ruins known as Machu Picchu on a mountain. And that is how this ancient city, built around 1450 AD, was discovered! Read on to know more about this architectural masterpiece.
Incas: The tribe that built Machu Picchu and disappeared
An architectural marvel, Machu Picchu was built by people from a tribe named Incas, who lived between 1200 to 1533 AD. Its famous citadel was constructed between 1438 and 1470 AD and the city was built under the reign of Pachacutec, the most powerful emperor of Incas, who ruled over Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile and Argentina. But the tribe disappeared around the late 16th century. But how? Well, in 1533, the Spanish people arrived in Cusco (a nearby city) with plans to invade Machu Picchu. Manco Inca, the then ruler of Machu Picchu, rebelled against the Spanish troops and soon declared war on the Spaniards. The Incas were defeated in 1572 and had to abandon the city and join the Spanish colony. As time passed, the abandoned Incan city got covered by thick vegetation.
How was the citadel of Machu Picchu built?
The citadel, a mammoth stone structure, is located on a 7,970 ft mountain range. Wondering how this structure was built so high and who carried such large stones to the top of the mountain? It is already known that the Incas were well-versed in architectural techniques. The palaces, temples and irrigation systems created by them can still be found throughout the Andes. Therefore, it is quite possible that Incas had technology and means to move these rocks to the mountain top.
One theory suggests the existence of a superior race before the Incas who built this city. This speculation comes from the fact that the citadel’s bottom half is more heavily carved than the upper half. However, scientists are yet to find a conclusive answer!
Why are there elongated skulls at Machu Picchu?
Bingham’s team found around 100 skeletons in Machu Picchu inside the cemeteries made for the Incan nobles! Some of the skulls in these skeletons were elongated. Researchers later found that elongating the skull was a traditional practice. This is how the nobles and kings proved their dominance over the rest of the population. This practice can also be observed in Mayan (1800 BC) culture, where archaeologists have found similar elongated skulls. Are you wondering how these skulls were elongated? One explanation is that they were made artificially using a binding technique.
Nevertheless, all these findings suggest that the Inca society was a highly developed civilization. However, there is no written history or records left by them. Most of its early history is passed on through legends and stories. Therefore, the Inca civilization remains a beautiful mystery to humanity.