ASTONISHING Secrets Behind 1911 Machu Picchu
On the morning of July 24th, 1911, Professor Hiram Bingham set out on an expedition to uncover a lost city. According to a centuries-old legend, the Spanish conquistadors had taken all of the Incan king’s gold and hidden it in a place called Vilcabamba. However, what Bingham and his team discovered was not the mythical city of gold but the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.
The locals referred to the site as Machu Picchu, a name now known worldwide. The Inca were renowned for their ashlar masonry, a technique where stones are precisely cut to fit together without the use of mortar. The precision of this stonework is such that not even a dollar bill or a razor blade can be inserted between the stones, showcasing the Inca’s advanced engineering skills despite the lack of modern technology.
Machu Picchu is an architectural marvel, with over 50 tons of stones forming its structure. This raises questions about how such an impressive construction was achieved at the top of a mountain using rudimentary tools and techniques. Theories abound, including some that suggest extraterrestrial assistance, though these are considered pseudoscience by most scholars.
Recent discoveries have suggested that the history of Machu Picchu might be older than previously thought. Near the center of Machu Picchu, a large granite outcrop was found to contain faint symbols depicting a man, a llama, and geometric shapes, raising questions about the region’s history and its connections to earlier civilizations.
One fascinating legend involves the Inca emperor Pachacuti, who supposedly encountered a supernatural being that foretold his future victories and the levitation of massive stones to construct Machu Picchu. Although this story adds a mystical element, modern researchers continue to investigate the practical engineering feats of the Inca.
It is estimated that up to 60% of Machu Picchu’s construction lies underground, with deep foundations designed to withstand earthquakes and manage water drainage. These subterranean structures suggest the presence of hidden chambers and further secrets.
In 2010, engineer David Crespy explored caves beneath the Temple of the Three Windows at Machu Picchu, discovering what he believed to be an entrance to deeper chambers. His findings, supported by ground-penetrating radar, indicated a significant amount of metal beneath the surface, potentially silver and gold, hinting at a royal burial site similar to those of the ancient Egyptians.
The Inca believed in preserving the power of their leaders through mummification, with the spirits of these mummies continuing to oversee their descendants. Spanish chronicles describe how the Inca would interact with these mummified remains as if they were still alive. The Spanish, horrified by this practice, eventually collected and relocated these mummies.
The search for Pachacuti’s remains continues, with some researchers believing that his mummy may have been reburied at Machu Picchu. The Spanish conquest led to the relocation of many Incan mummies to Lima, but none have been definitively identified. If the radar findings at Machu Picchu prove accurate, it could mean the discovery of a significant burial site, potentially revealing more about the life and afterlife of the Inca’s greatest leader.
