On July 24th, 1911, Hiram Bingham, at the suggestion of Braulio Polo y La Borda, owner of the local ranch Mondorpampa, made an historic discovery-drive to what is now well know as Machu Picchu's monumental complex. A humble peasant, Don Melchor Arteaga guided the North American scout, Bingham, to Machu Picchu's architectural enclosure. Bingham was immediately fully aware of the magnitude of his discovery and made his best efforts to ensure the world became aware if this awesome monument to the Incan civilization.

Incan Citadel

The following year, with a scientific expedition out of Yale University, Bingham ratified his discovery and his team members made the first scientific studies of the archaeological materials.

Machu Picchu means "old pick" or "old hill". It refers to to the lowest peak in the hill where the walls rise to what appears to be the final resting place of the Inca, Pachacuti. The highest peak is known as Huayna Picchu or "young hill". Some architectural remains are to be found here as well as at Machu Picchu.

More than a gigantic construction project, Machu Picchu is an outstanding architectual feat, noted for harmonization of buildings with landscape and for the degree of difficulty in construction as it pierces the sky at 2430 meters' altitude on the river, Urubamba. Located east of the city of Cusco, these archeological ruins juxtapose the creeping presence of the Amazon tropical rainforest which dares to climb up into the mountain range. It is possible that Machu Picchu's architectural complex extends toward the forest, and that more constructs are buried under vegetation. A dazzling sensation of force and beauty transmits as does a resonance of the skill and capacity of the Incan architects and builders. Who knows what further.