The ruins of the city of Machu Picchu were rediscovered late because they were hidden by dense vegetation and located in a remote region of the Andes in Peru, making them difficult to access for Western explorers.
The city of Machu Picchu is nestled at the top of a rocky ridge, in the heart of a mountainous region that is difficult to access in the Peruvian Andes. Surrounded by steep mountains with steep slopes and bordered by the deep valley of the Urubamba, it remains naturally hidden from usual routes. Add to that an altitude exceeding 2400 meters, narrow paths that are often slippery, winding between cliffs and precipices, and you have a city that is utterly inaccessible without a seriously motivated expedition. These natural barriers explain why this wonder remained off the explorers' radar for so long.
The Inca civilization did not have a writing system comparable to that of the Europeans, but primarily used the quipu, a set of knotted strings mainly used to record numbers or administrative data. Without precise texts or explicit notes, the history of Machu Picchu has been transmitted through oral tradition, often imprecise and infused with local legends. When the Spaniards arrived, they left no clear record of the city—perhaps they never even knew of its existence. Without clear written traces, Machu Picchu remained off the historical radar for a long time.
The locals had long been aware of the existence of the ruins, but they preferred to keep the place secret. They avoided talking about it to outsiders to preserve the sacred nature of the site and prevent looting. The nearby communities viewed Machu Picchu as a precious heritage left by their ancestors, to be protected at all costs. This deliberate silence helped keep the Inca city away from explorers for many years.
During the Spanish colonial era, the regions surrounding Machu Picchu were regularly shaken by conflicts between local peoples and the new European arrivals. These constant tensions and political instabilities seriously hindered the thorough exploration of remote areas. Later, in the 19th century, when Peru gained its independence, the country was far from politically stable: internal power struggles, continual uprisings, and other battles clearly pushed archaeological exploration to the back burner. With all this chaos, it's no wonder that the ruins of Machu Picchu went unnoticed for so long.
The region where Machu Picchu is located is covered by a dense subtropical forest with very thick vegetation, making the visibility of the archaeological sites particularly difficult. For centuries, many ruins were completely hidden under a thick carpet of climbing plants, shrubs, and trees, making them resemble mere natural rock formations or ordinary small mounds. Nature had somewhat reclaimed its territory, and even from just a few meters away, it was almost impossible to suspect the presence of the ancient city. Only meticulous research and intensive clearing supervised by the archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911 allowed the world to uncover the reality of the extraordinary remains buried beneath this thick layer of vegetation.
The local oral tradition referred to Machu Picchu by several different names before its rediscovery by the Western world, thus contributing to its mystery and the difficulty researchers faced in identifying it.
This ancient city is built with remarkable engineering: at Machu Picchu, the Incas constructed the walls without mortar, carving the stones with such precision that even today a knife blade cannot slip between two adjacent stones.
According to historians, Machu Picchu is believed to have been abandoned less than a century after its construction, likely due to the arrival of Spanish conquerors or a major epidemic.
Although often referred to as the "lost city of the Incas," Machu Picchu was never truly forgotten by the local inhabitants, who were aware of its existence but did not disclose its location to foreign explorers.
The city represents a remarkable example of Inca architecture, perfectly combining technique, nature, and the mountainous landscape. Many questions remain unanswered regarding its exact function, cultural significance, and the reasons for its abandonment, which continues to spark scientific interest.
The city remained very distant from the main roads and well camouflaged by dense vegetation and rugged terrain. As a result, the Spaniards never spotted it during their conquest and left no accurate record about it.
The thick subtropical forests covering the ruins allowed Machu Picchu to remain hidden for several centuries. The stone structures were overrun by roots, shrubs, and moss, making them almost invisible from afar.
The city of Machu Picchu was officially rediscovered in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham, accompanied by local guides. Although it is likely that others had discovered it before, Bingham's visit is considered pivotal for its international fame.
Sure, here’s the translation: "Yes, some local inhabitants were well aware of the existence of this site. However, they often remained discreet or protective about it, keeping the information regarding its exact location secret from outside explorers."
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