Machu Picchu
The famous citadel is real — but nobody really knows when it was first built or by whom.
What mainstream archaeology says
Machu Picchu was built by Inca emperor Pachacuti around 1450 AD as a royal estate and religious retreat.
What the evidence actually shows
Two distinct masonry styles exist at Machu Picchu: the rough fieldstone the Incas are known for, and an older tier of finely fitted polygonal stonework that predates the 15th-century Inca occupation. The astronomical alignments are also more complex than a simple estate requires.
Key facts
- ◆Two clearly different masonry styles visible throughout the site
- ◆Precise solar and lunar alignments built into the architecture
- ◆No written records of its construction exist
- ◆Buried under jungle until 1911 — condition suggests long abandonment before Inca use
Visit Machu Picchu
Aaron leads private expeditions to this site. Tell him it's on your list and he'll build the rest of the itinerary around it.
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