Historic Machu Picchu by The Inca: World Mesmerized, Researchers Still Seeking Answers

Machu Picchu located in northwest of Cuzco Region, Peru stands over 8,000 feet above sea-level and sprawls across some 116 square miles, the size of a village.

The mysterious, highly historic and spectacular ancient site was built by the Inca in the fifteenth century. The powerful Inca lived in Peru for about 600 years before being conquered by the Spanish in 1532.

discover Machu Picchu, Peru
View of ancient Machu Picchu by Diego Delso

According to some history records, Machu Picchu remained hidden until American archaeologist Hiram Bingham was led to the site in 1911.

Machu Picchu, Peru

“There is a longstanding debate about what the function of Machu Picchu was because it is so unique and unusual as an Inca site… It is too big to be a local settlement. And it’s too small and not the right structure to have been an administrative center for the Inca Empire,” says Brenda Bradley, an associate professor of anthropology at the George Washington University.

On September 30, 2015, George Washington State University announced that Dr. Bradley and a team of researchers will be the first to analyze the genomes of the skeletal remains from more than 170 individuals buried at the site. The team’s other members include Lars Fehren-Schmitz from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Yale University’s Richard Burger and Lucy Salazar. By sequencing the skeletons’ ancient DNA, the researchers hope to better understand the functional role of Machu Picchu and its residents, as well as patterns of diversity, migration and labor diaspora in the Inca Empire—the largest in pre-Columbian America.

Machu Picchu, Peru

While researchers and historians continue to search for answers, over one million visitors travel to the spectacular archaeological site every year.

Machu Picchu, Peru

The South American nation of Peru has a population of just over 30 million – a mixture of Indians, Spaniards, descendants of Africans, Asians and other Europeans.

The name Machu Picchu is derived from Quechua, an indigenous Peruvian language… ‘Machu’ meaning old, old person and ‘pikchu’ meaning pyramid.

For visitors looking to explore Machu Picchu, the area is accessible from neighboring towns. Late July and August are peak months for tourists, the weather is dry and generally conducive for outdoor activities, although damp mists cling to the forests most of the year. Would you visit?

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