6 little-known facts about Machu Picchu
Today, Machu Picchu is among South America’s most visited historical sites. Here are amazing things we know about this legacy of the long-gone Inca Empire.
Image: Shutterstock.com
The 15th-century Machu Picchu, lying in a ridge of the Andes Mountains in southern Peru, is famed as the ‘Lost City of the Incas’. It’s attracted generations of enthralled archaeologists and been the subject of various documentary programmes, including Sky HISTORY’s History’s Greatest Mysteries.
Nonetheless, there are also a fair few myths about Machu Picchu. For a start, despite its nickname, it wasn’t really a city, though its actual intended purpose remains something of a mystery.
This has doubtless fuelled the torrent of misinformation about the site, but what do we actually know about it? The team at Sky HISTORY thought we’d gather some especially fascinating facts about this legendary location.
1. The Incas occupied Machu Picchu for less than a century
The Inca Empire was a behemoth in its day, ruling 12 million subjects. At its geographic peak in the early 16th century, it spanned more than two million square kilometres of western South America.
However, despite these impressive statistics, it collapsed almost as quickly as it established its pre-eminence. This is reflected in the story of Machu Picchu. It is thought to have been built at the behest of the empire’s founder, Pachacuti, around 1450 AD.
Tragically, though, modern radiocarbon analysis of the site suggests that it was vacated no later than the 1530s. This is around the time that Spanish conquistadors started making incursions into Inca territory.
2. Machu Picchu was never actually ‘lost’
Again, this runs counter to the site’s common nickname. The Hawaiian-born explorer Hiram Bingham is often credited with discovering Machu Picchu.
However, even after locals abandoned Machu Picchu in the 16th century, many remained perfectly aware of it – it just fell into disuse. It even appeared on maps in the decades before Bingham came across it. He remains, though, more influential than anyone in bringing Machu Picchu to worldwide notice.
3. No-one really knows what Machu Picchu was used for
The Inca civilisation lacked its own written language. Hence, they did not leave written records about their history, details of which were instead passed down through oral tradition.
Spaniards who conquered Inca land in the 16th century did write down some information sourced from natives they had subdued. Unfortunately, though, this did not extend to details about how the Incas used Machu Picchu.
Hence, modern historians and archaeologists have had no option but to merely speculate about its originally intended purpose. This has led to some intriguing theories springing up over the years.
4. Machu Picchu might still hold Pachacuti’s remains
There are various competing theories about Machu Picchu’s purpose, including that it served as an observatory or religious centre. The most common consensus is that it was one of Pachacuti’s personal estates - his holiday home or summer retreat, if you will.
It’s fitting, then, that Machu Picchu might also have been chosen as his final resting place. That’s not entirely conjecture. On a visit to Machu Picchu in 2010, French engineer David Crespy noticed what looked suspiciously like a blocked-up door among the ruins.
Using electromagnetic equipment, researchers subsequently found potential evidence of multiple rooms beyond this door. Could these spaces make up Pachacuti’s funerary complex?
Unfortunately, we might never know for definite, as the Peruvian government has turned down researchers’ requests for permission to excavate the area.
5. It’s featured in many Hollywood films
Given how stunning Machu Picchu looks in photos, it’s hardly surprising that it’s been chosen as a backdrop for scenes in Hollywood films.
High-profile examples from decades gone by include Secret of the Incas (1954), starring Charlton Heston, and the Werner Herzog-directed Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972).
The last time you saw Machu Picchu on the big screen, it was probably in the 2023 blockbuster Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. A clash between futuristic robots is one thing you doubtless never expected to see in the vicinity of Machu Picchu.
6. Many speculate that aliens were involved in building Machu Picchu
Yes, perhaps no Transformers have ever waged battle near Machu Picchu. Still, it has been suggested that the site has attracted at least some visitors from outer space…
Machu Picchu comprises large, heavy granite stones, but it’s unclear how the Incas shifted these up the mountain without the use of wheels.
Could aliens have helped move the stones into place? It’s more likely that the Incas, unhindered by modern distractions like social media, simply had time to come up with their own ingenious solutions.
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