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Machu Picchu, a royal and religious estate located in Peru,
was built between 1460 and 1470 AD, and served the first great Incan Emperor
Pachacuti. It is a complex comprising 200 buildings, primarily residences,
temples, and storage structures, nestled between two peaks and hidden from
view by forests and dense bushes. To visit it, one has to climb 2,500 meters
up the Andes mountains.
The structures of Machu Picchu are professionally built with granite blocks
fitted together perfectly without the use of mortar. The interlocking blocks
are of different sizes and shapes, and each block is multi-faceted, with
some having more than thirty faces. The joints are so tight that only
razor-thin instruments can fit between the blocks. The ancient builders used
bronze and stone implements to cut the blocks and sand to smoothen them.
Machu Picchu is an architectural marvel that blends beautifully with the
rocky landscape. The existing stone formations were used in the construction
of towers, walls, and columns. Sculptures were carved into the rocks, and
temples were perched precariously on cliff edges. The residential area is
designed with houses surrounding village squares and connected by roads and
alleyways. Stone cisterns and channels were built for water to flow through.
The agricultural system utilized efficient terracing and irrigation methods
to plant the main crops, which were potato and maize.
Machu Picchu was abandoned when the Spanish conquerors arrived in 1532. It
remained hidden until Hiram Bingham, an American historian, rediscovered it
in 1911. Bingham mistook it for the lost city of Vilcabamba, the last
capital of the Incan Empire. Nevertheless, Machu Picchu is considered the
most spectacular archaeological find in the world.
The rediscovery of Machu Picchu revealed many archaeological wonders. The
structures remain as solid as when they were first constructed, even though
smallpox ravaged the Incan communities in the 16th century, and by 1527,
half of the population had been wiped out. Machu Picchu is an example of
Incan architectural excellence, and its design has become a source of
inspiration for modern architects.
In conclusion, Machu Picchu is an astonishing archaeological site in Peru
that offers a glimpse into the world of the ancient Incas. Its remarkable
architecture, advanced agricultural system, and beautiful harmony between
its structures and the rocky landscape make it a must-visit destination.
Despite its abandonment and subsequent rediscovery, it remains a testament
to the skill and ingenuity of the Incan people. |
