Science Features

INTERVIEW: 'Machu Picchu was one of many places'

By Helen Hoffmann Jul 21, 2011, 8:19 GMT

View of the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru, during celebrations of the one hundredth anniversary of its discovery when US explorer Hiram Bingham arrived, in Cusco, Peru, 07 July 2011. EPA/RAUL GARCIA

Berlin - Peru's Machu Picchu or the Lost City of the Incas enjoys world renown. But it probably was only one among many in the Inca empire, says Karoline Noack, an expert on the Inca.

The idea that the city was not discovered for centuries is a myth, because local inhabitants knew of its existence, Noack, who is a professor of Ancient American Studies at the University of Bonn, said in an interview with the German Press Agency dpa.

dpa: What kind of a place was Machu Picchu?

Noack: Machu Picchu was the country estate of the ninth Inca ruler Pachacuti. He is considered the founder of the Inca empire as an expansive state. He had the site constructed during the 15th century. It was a kind of retreat and perhaps a place where he could retire in old age. It is hard to say how often he was there, as there have been hardly any discoveries from that era.

dpa: Who else lived there?

Noack: Apart from the ruling family, there were people from surrounding villages who worked in Machu Picchu. Groups from other regions were also sent there to farm. After all, Pachacuti's large family had to be looked after. We cannot say exactly how many lived there.

dpa: How important was Machu Picchu in the Inca empire?

Noack: It was probably just one place among many others in the entire empire. There were 12 or 13 Inca rulers each of whom had their own sanctuaries.

dpa: How long after the Spanish conquest of Peru did Machu Picchu remain undiscovered?

Noack: The idea of its being undiscovered is a modern myth. Although the ruling family abandoned Machu Picchu, it was used by other groups of people until the 19th century. The local population was always aware of its existence.

dpa: Why was the 'City in the Clouds' never completed?

Noack: I wouldn't say the city was not completed. It just continued being built. After the Spanish conquered the Inca empire in 1532, the ruling family left the site and that is why some of the building works were not completed.

dpa: Is it clear who discovered Machu Picchu first?

Noack: No, it is not at all clear. The US archaeologist Hiram Bingham was certainly not the first. The site was included on maps as early as the 19th century. But Bingham was the one to make the discovery known.

dpa: Does the place still hold unanswered questions for scientists?

Noack: Yes. We know very, very little about the Incas. There is no written evidence from this period, only from the era after the Spanish conquest.

dpa: What is the significance of Machu Picchu for Peru?

Noack: The site is of tremendous importance today. Peru considers itself the heir of the Inca state. It is a very important centre of global tourism.

dpa: Is tourism a threat to what remains of the city?

Noack: Tourism is always a threat to such places. It has to be regulated.