Machu Picchu, one of the best known sites in the country of Peru, is now also included in the list of the new seven wonders of the world. Machu Picchu lies on a mountain ridge, high above the Urubamba Valley at approximately 2400 meters above sea level.
Due to its cultural and spiritual significance, Machu Picchu was included in the watch list of hundred most endangered sites by the World Monuments Fund in 2008.
It is believed that the early inhabitants of Machu Picchu died within 100 years of its establishment, possibly due to small pox, a disease Spaniards introduced to the area during their conquests, although there is no record that the Spanish ever visited Macho Picchu.
The history of Machu Picchu coincides with peak era of the Inca Empire in around 1450AD. There are many beliefs regarding the construction of Machu Picchu but the real purpose of Machu Picchu cannot be said with any deal of accuracy.
Some believe it could have been a prison while others believe that it was a defensive retreat. Most archaeologists have speculated that it was the estate of an Inca emperor. But the reality remains a mystery.
The most significant feature in the history of Machu Picchu is it architectural beauty. It was built in the same way as the pyramids of Egypt by using massive stones taken across the land. It is the clear proof of their creative minds that they cut the stones with such precision that stones fit together tightly. The stones are not bound by any Mortar but still they are tight enough that it is very difficult to fit a small thin knife in between them.
The fact that the ruins stand almost intact even today stands testament to the quality of workmanship used in Incan construction techniques, especially considering the area is prone to strong earthquakes and violent storms. It is a mystery how Incas cut the stones in such a precisely manner without the use of modern technology. There is a myth that Aliens came and assisted!
It is widely recognized that Hiram Bingham was the first person to rediscover Machu Picchu, however there is evidence that explorers reached the site prior to Bingham. A long time researcher of Cusco-Simone Waisbard claimed that he found engraved names of Enrique Palma, Gabino Sánchez, and AgustÃn Lizárraga on one of the rocks in Machu Picchu on July 14, 1901. Again in 1904, Franklin supposedly spotted the ruins from a distant mountain. He informed his Christian missionary friend, Thomas Payne living in that region about the site, who along with his fellow missionary Stauart E. McNairn claimed to have climbed up to the ruins in 1906.
The Incas were amazingly advanced for the time period, as is shown in the design and construction of their ceremonial centers. Some other examples of their architectural intelligence and competence are Ollantaytambo and Pisac Cuzco.
Royston L James is author of World Wonders Seven, an educational website devoted to the seven wonders of the world.
The site has information on all the wonder lists, ancient wonders of the world, the modern, the medieval even the underwater wonders!
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