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Rohit Paswan
28 July 2024 |
On 23 July 1911 Hiram Bingham III, a Yale University history professor and explorer, along with Sergent Carroasce was leading a Peruvian expedition to find the lost city of Inca civilization rediscovered Machu Pichu. The expedition was primarily for the lost capital of Inca civilization - Vilcabamba and the other city, Viteos, they ended up rediscovering Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu, often referred to as the “Lost City” of the Incas, is a remarkable archaeological site tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Peru. It is believed to have been a royal estate or a sacred religious site for Inca leaders whose whole civilization was wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. The existence of the abandoned citadel was a secret to the outer world and was only known to peasants and locals living in the region.
The road to rediscovery
Hiram Bingham was the first person to go to the region and gather oral testimony of locals, using names of places mentioned in the Spanish chronicles and maps of past Peruvian geographies. On 24th July 1911, Bingham, Carrosce, along with his team, started the journey through the Urubamba river. They stopped at ‘hacienda’ called Mander Pampa where they met a local farmer Melchor Arteaga who told them about the ruins at the top of a hill nearby called Machu Picchu (old peak).
They started the climb and reached the top of the hills where they found peasants amongst the marvellous ruins of Macha Picchu. They were then led by an eleven-year-old boy named Pablito. Thus, Bingham and his team were the first outsiders to reach there in centuries.
Bingham stayed for some time and explored the site, taking photographs and notes. He then returned to the base camp where he prepared reports and documented everything in his diary. Later, he went back to Yale University to secure more funds for future explorations that would take place in 1912 and 1914-15.
What Next?
The events that followed the next set of explorations led to the global exposure of Machu Picchu and a growing interest in Peruvian history. It also revived the interest in Inca and Andean archaeology.
The rediscovery of Machu Picchu by Bingham is significant because it marks the moment that Machu Picchu became known to the world, which led to its journey of becoming one of the most famous archaeological sites globally. Later, in 1983, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In 2007 it was included as one of the Seven Wonders of the world. The site pulled in tourism for Peru from across the globe which boosted infrastructure development and helped to build the town of “Aguas Calientes”.
Machu Picchu also had long-lasting cultural impacts. Its rediscovery led to the revival of interest in Inca civilization and Andean archaeology. Further, the site contributed to boosting the regional economy by becoming a source of employment for locals who participated in the growing tourism industry in the region.
However, Machu Picchu’s growth to fame had an adverse effect on the indigenous people as their livelihood and rights over the land were compromised while their culture and tradition began to get diluted due to the sudden exposure from the outside world. Nevertheless, this friction eventually led to the awareness of indigenous rights and efforts were made to include them in the tourism and management of the site as a way to provide them with new sources of livelihood.
Machu Picchu and the Inca civilization stand as enduring testaments to the cultural richness of pre-Columbian South America. The Incas, with their advanced agricultural techniques, sophisticated engineering, and complex social structure, built an empire that spanned much of Western South America. The ancient citadel showcases the Incas’ architecture and engineering skills. It also provides valuable insight into their religious beliefs, astronomical knowledge, and daily lives.
The legacy of the Inca and the mystery of Machu Picchu inspire the research world, tourism, and archaeology, and they highlight indigenous American culture, which serves as a bridge between ancient, past, and present-day South America.
About the author
Rohit Paswan is a Postgraduate student at Pondicherry University.
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