From 100 Facts For 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #63

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

63. Hiram Bingham's collection of Peruvian artifacts, however, was criticized as haphazard.

Even if experts consider it haphazard, Peru was happy to have the items returned earlier this year and they are now on display in Cusco.

BlogCatalog

From 100 Facts For 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #62

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

62. Hiram Bingham III brought back more than 5,000 artifacts from Peru on an expedition funded by National Geographic and Yale University.

It was originally thought Hiram Bingham took 4,000 artifacts Machu Picchu. However when the country of Peru sued Yale to return the pieces it was discovered there were some 40,000 pieces.

From 100 Facts For 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #61

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

61. Critics say, somewhat disdainfully, that Hiram Bingham, who was a history professor, lacked the proper training to excavate Machu Picchu.

At the time of the discovery of Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham was not a professor but a lecturer.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #59

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor'

59. Spain was, arguably, the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world at one time. Its coffers surely benefited from the infusion of riches from Peru.

During the colonization of the Americas Spain established two viceroyalties in the Americas.  The first New Spain which included the United States west of the Mississippi, Mexico and Central America with the exception of Panama and the Floridas as well as the Spanish East Indes (Philippine Islands, Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands,Taiwan, and parts of the Moluccas) and the Spanish West Indies(Cuba, Hispaniola, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica,Cayman Islands, Trinidad, and the Bay Islands).

The other was the Viceroyalty of Peru which oversaw much of current South America including modern day Ecuador, Peru, Bolvia, Chile, Argentina, Panama, Colombia, Boliva, Uruguay and Paraguay.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #58

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

58. Spain called its conquered lands the "Viceroyalty of Peru," ruling for 300 years.

Under the Viceroyalty of Peru most of South America was under the control of Lima.  All ships traveling between South America and Europe and / or Asia were required to pass through the port of Callao (just outside of Lima).

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #60

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

60. Some say that, like the Spanish, Hiram Bingham took what wasn't his on his trips to Peru.

The Hiram Bingham collection included some 40,000 pieces including mummies, ceramics and bones taken when Hiram Bingham "discovered" Machu Picchu in 1911.

From 100 Facts For 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #57

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

57. It's unclear why Machu Picchu was abandoned, but some say it may have been because water was scarce. (That seems unlikely, given the attention to engineering and hydrology at the site, as evidenced, partly, by the irrigation system.) Others blame the Spanish conquest.

One theory includes that as Machu Picchu was a royal retreat underwent a bloody civil war between Huascar and Atahualpa there was little need for a retreat at the time.

From 100 Facts For 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #56

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

56. Machu Picchu was abandoned in the mid-16th century.

Several historians theorize the reason the Spanish never found Machu Picchu is it had been abandoned prior to their arrival.

From 100 Facts For 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #55

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

55. No one is certain exactly when Machu Picchu was built, but best guesses suggest it was some time around the mid-15th century.

Unlike many of the Inca Sites which were built by other cultures and modified by the Incas.  Archealogists believe the Incas built Machu Picchu.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #54

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
54. Machu Picchu, it's postulated today, probably was a vacation spot for royalty.

This theory also matches with the legal papers filed by Pachacuti descendants in the 1500's.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu #53

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

53.  Later research showed that the remains found at Machu Picchu were not all women, and the idea that it was a sanctuary of sorts for the Virgins of the Sun was discarded.

Hiram Bingham entered tombs at Machu Picchu and removed bones to Yale University.  The collection he took was recently returned to Peru.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu #52

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
52. The Virgins of the Sun were an elite group who took a vow of chastity.  They were not of noble blodo, but their leader, a high priestess, was.

The virgins were young village girls chosen between 8 - 10 years of age based on their looks who would spend the next 6 to 7 years in the temple next to the Temple of the Sun where they were taught to weave fine clothing and robes for the nobles and hangings for ceremonies.  Afterwards many would often concubines for the Inca or marry nobles.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #51

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
51. The early explorers, led by Hiram Bingham, were unclear about the purpose of Machu Picchu.  Remains found at the site allegedly were all women, leading some to believe it was the sanctuary of the Virgins of the Sun.

Even upon Hiram Bingham's return to Machu Picchu almost 40 years later, much of what was thought of Machu Picchu was incorrect.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #50

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
50. Machu Picchu is hard to see from below. It is in a cloud forest (note to visitors: Mornings are often foggy) and has been overgrown.

The best time to visit Machu Picchu is from April to November when it is normally dry.  January, February and March tend to receive rain.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #49

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
49. If the Spaniards failed to find Machu Picchu, perhaps it's because they were distracted by their desire for the spoils of war, which is partly what led to disagreements between Diego de Almargo and Francisco and Hernando Pizarro.

Researchers have found the name Machupicchu written all as one word referenced in books in the Cusco Monastaries dating back to the 1500's.  There were also legal papers filled in which the descendants of Pachacuti sought the return of family lands including a retreat called Picchu.  Yet it is unknown if anyone visited the city or just knew of its exsistance.

100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #48

The Capture of Diego de Almagro

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
48. Francisco Pizaro was killed by the son and supporters of his partner, Diego de Almagro, who had been executed by Pizarro's brother, Hernando.

The execution of Almagro there was much infighting within the Spanish Court.  Hernando returned to Spain to gain aid for the Pizzaro side.  He was imprisoned for 20 years for his part of the tretchery in the new world.  Upon his release he married Francisca Pizarro Yupanqui the daughter of Francisco Pizarro and his Inca mistress Ines Yupanqui.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #47

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
47. Francisco Pizaro earily took over the city of Cuzco. Two years later, he founded Lima, where he died in 1541.

After killing Atahuallpa, Pizzaro took two of his sisters as mistresses Inés Yupanqui with whom he had Francisca Pizarro Yupanqui and Gonzalo Pizarro and Cuxirimay Ocllo Yupanqui with who he had two sons Francisco and Juan.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #46

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

46. In 1533, Atahuallpa was executed, and explorer Francisco Pizaro began his march to Cuzco.

From the history of Cusco ...

With the empire sharply divided and without a leader to take on the Spanish. On July 26, 1533 Pizaro executed Atahulpa, the last of the great Incas in Cajamarca.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #45

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

45. Amazingly, Francisco Pizaro's men, who numbered less than 200, overcame 4,000 or so Incans and captured Atahuallpa, the Incan ruler.

from the history of Cusco ...

To gain his freedom the great Inca agreed to pay the Spanish a ransom of gold and silver filling a large room 22 x 17 feet once with gold and twice with silver. Gold and silver flowed from throughout the kingdom many of the statues from Cusco were sent to pay the ransom. Atahulpa learned that the Spanish wished to see Huascar, fearing the Spanish would make a deal with his brother, Atahulpa ordered Huacar and his family executed.

From 100 Facts for 100 Years of Machu Picchu - #44

By Catharine Hamm | Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
44. In November 1530, Francisco Pizaro and Atahulpa, the Incan ruler, were to meet in Cajamarca, an Incan city in northern Peru.  Pizaro told Atahualpa to give hiself to Christ and the Spanards, and when he refused, Pizaro decided to attack.

from the history of Cusco...

On their third voyage south, Francisco Pizaro landed near modern day Piura on the northern coast of Peru near the boarder of Ecuador.  Herando de Soto was dispatched to explore the new lands within a few days he returned with an envoy from Atahulpa himself along with some presents with the invitation for a meeting with the strangers.

A Spanish group of less than 200 set out for Cajamarca where Atahulpa was resting after the lengthy war with his brother. The Spanish arrived and laid a trap. The Incas who were camped near a hill by the hot springs were requested to meet Pizaro in town the following day. Arriving late the following afternoon Atahulpa was met by a friar who he refused to accept Catholicism the Spanish sprang the trap. The meager Spanish forces defeated the some 80,000 Incas, and captured Atahulpa.