Machu
Picchu
is located 2300 meters above sea level (7546 ft.), at 112
km. (70 miles) from Cuzco, in the Urubamba valley in the lowest
part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas in a area of direct
access to the upper jungle. Without doubt, Machu Picchu was
part of a very big complex of fortresses which defended the
Andean lands in Sacred valley of any assault from native people
out of the jungle.
Having Huayna Picchu as a background they divided Machu Picchu
in four sectors. Northwest is located the area that was probably
used for the main religious purposes, that includes a Plaza
named by Hiram Bingham as "Sacred Plaza", also the
temple of the "Three Windows", "The Sacred
Temple", the "Priests Mansion", and the "Intihuatana"
that is a large block of limestone used during Inca ceremonies.
The "Intihuatana" (Quechua "place
where the sun is bonded") is a solar observatory that
allowed the Incas to keep track of the seasons of the year
and the flow of time based on the shadows caused by the sun
over the stone.
The largest residences are located on the northeast of the
complex. The most luxurious residences and also a watch tower
are located on the southwest of the complex and therefore
it is assumed that this part of the Citadel was probably the
heart of all the urban activities.
To the southeast of the complex are located the smallest and
most humble of the buildings built around very narrow streets,
close to numerous terraces constructed for agricultural purposes
as denoted by the existence of a very complex aqueduct system
in this area. In the lowest part of the terraces is a cemetery,
where during a search were discovered 135 skeletons and 109
of them were identified as females. This fact has allowed
historians and archeologists to believe that Machu Picchu's
inhabitants were mostly females that could have been the chosen
ones of the Inca, fleeing from Cusco when it was overrun by
the Conquerors of Spain and seeking refuge in Machu Picchu
that, by the way, was never discovered by the Spaniards.
Machu Picchu was introduced to the scientific world by Hiram
Bingham, who was led to the site by the folk that lived in
the area. He reached it on July 24th,1911. Bingham, an American
Anthropologist from Yale University, was the one that began
the Archaeological studies of the area, and it was him who
gave the city the title of the "Lost City of the Incas"
that was also the name he used for his book on the subject.
Since 1981 it has been declared Historical Sanctuary as well
as World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its archaeological
importance as well as its unique flora such as the orchids
that you may find aplenty.
Archeological Sites Attractions:
Archeological Site of Sacsayhuaman,
located at 2 kilometers from Cuzco.
Archeological Site of Qenko
- Kenko, located at 6 kilometers from Cuzco.
Archeological Site of Pukapukara
- Puca Pucara, located at 7 kilometers from Cuzco.
Archeological Site of Tambomachay,
located at 9 kilometers from Cuzco.
Archeological Site of Raqchi
or Wiracocha, located at 112 kilometers from Cuzco.
Archeological Site of Choquequirao,
located at 90 kilometers from Abancay.
Archeological Site of Tipon,
located at 25 kilometers from Cuzco.
Archeological Site of Ollantaytambo,
located at 97 kilometers from Cuzco. s
