Hiram Bingham

Machu Picchu is the most spectacular archaeological Incan site in South America. This Peruvian mysterious “Lost City of the Incas” has fascinated history buffs for almost a century. Aside from its spectacular setting in the Andes, Machu Picchu is intriguing to archaeologists and historians because it is not documented in any of the ancient chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors. The seafaring Spanish conquered the Incan capital Cuzco and moved the seat of power to coastal Lima. In their records, the conquistadors mention numerous other Incan cities, but not Machu Picchu. Consequently, no one is certain what function the city served.