Incan Day 7

In 1911 archaeologists made an incredible find, high in the Andes Mountains. They found an entire city that had not been destroyed by the Spanish invaders. This forgotten city is named Machu Picchu. It is a huge tourist attraction in modern day Peru today.

Built in the 1450, Machu Picchu probably served as a royal estate and ceremonial center for Inca emperors.

​Located about 45 miles from Cuzco, the Inca abandoned Machu Picchu before the Spanish arrived.

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Hidden in the mountains, Spanish conquerors never discovered this palace.

​Archaeologists found ruins of temples, palaces, fortresses, pottery, statues, and all kinds of artifacts.

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It was incredible! This find told archaeologists and scientists a great deal about the ancient Inca civilization.

An estimated 40,000 artifacts to Yale University for further study including mummies, ceramics, silver statues, jewelery and bones.

​In 1911 the artifacts were taken to Yale University in the United States in CT.

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​In 2010 the artifacts were returned to Peru, where they will be put in a museum.

​Most of the buildings are built with stones that are fitted together tightly without the use of mortar. This style of construction helped the buildings to stay intact during earthquakes.

​Machu Picchu's construction is amazing considering the Inca's did not use animals, iron tools, or the wheel.

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It's a mystery how the massive blocks of stone were moved up steep terrain and through dense bushes.

​The Inca didn't use the wheel or have cows or bulls, so most of the hard work was done by people.

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It would have taken hundreds of laborers using grass ropes and levers to move the large stones around the site.

​Machu Picchu was not a large city. It is in present day Peru.

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Probably only around 1,000 people lived there. It was likely a city for the Inca nobility and priests as well as their servants.

​Most of Machu Picchu was constructed in the Classical Inca style with dry polished walls.

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The Incas were masters of the construction technique called ashlar, in which stones are cut and moulded to fit together perfectly, without the use of mortar.

​The structures within Machu Picchu were also constructed in a style that would protect the safety of the building in the event of an earthquake.

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Doors and windows are trapezoidal in shape, tilting inwards for strength.