More on lost Inca city

Ruins show 'lost city' of the Incas was part of vast complex
By David Keys Archaeology Correspondent
07 November 2003

The world's most famous "lost city" - the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in
Peru, found in the early 20th century - was part of a much larger
complex, according to sensational new archaeological discoveries.
While investigating a mountain ridge facing the Andean city, an
Anglo-American expedition has discovered a previously unknown series of
high-status sacred ceremonial buildings scattered over at least a square
mile of jungle.
So far, using airborne infra-red reconnaissance and exploration of the
jungle itself, the team - led by the British explorer Hugh Thomson and
the American archaeologist Gary Ziegler - have found 33 previously
unknown buildings. They also found seven others which had originally
been located by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1912, but the
whereabouts of which had been lost, as Bingham left no compass bearings.
Preliminary examination of the ruins suggests that the complex was a
large religious centre used for ceremonies and astronomical
observations.
The new area istwo miles from Machu Picchu itself. The expedition has
identified, as well as the buildings, eight plazas, seven
10ft-highplatforms and a series of walled walkways connecting
structures. The buildings include a massive storehouse, a probable sun
temple (resembling in several ways the great sun temple in the Inca
capital, Cuzco, 45 miles away), and a two-storey observatory, for
watching solar equinoxes and solstices.
The archaeologists believe that the complex was probably built by the
Inca emperor Pachacuti in the mid-15th century. The complex, known as
Llactapata, appears to have been constructed along with Machu Picchu as
part of one overall plan. Buildings in both Machu Picchu and Llactapata
are aligned with each other and with Mount Machu Picchu, which dominates
the site.
The ruined fortress city of Machu Picchu ("manly peak")consists of about
200 buildings at an altitude of 8,000ft. It was probably used to provide
seasonal high-status accommodation and some ceremonial facilities for
the ruler and his entourage, with room for 1,200 people, possibly during
the winter when Cuzco became very cold. Llactapata, on the other hand,
appears to have been more ceremonial in nature. The sites therefore
complemented each other and formed a greater whole facing each other
across the Aobamba River.
Mr Ziegler said: "This is an important discovery which may completely
alter our view of Machu Picchu, as the Llactapata site is closely
related to it."
Mr Thomson, who has just returned to the UK after four months in Peru,
said: "This must be one of the last places left on the planet where
major above-ground archaeological monuments are still being located. We
are extremely excited by this find."
Archaeologists say the discovery reinforces the need to expand the Machu
Picchu Historical Sanctuary's borders to include and protect a wider
area. At present the ruins at Llactapata lie outside the protection of
the Peruvian National Park Service and so are vulnerable to looters.
The expedition discovered evidence suggesting that looters had been
active at the site, despite the fact that archaeologists were unaware of
the site's existence.
The Inca ruins are visited by 500,000 tourists every year.
The exploration was carried out with the support of the Royal
Geographical Society.

© 2003 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd






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