Ocean State Libraries

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING TRAVEL MEMOIR
What happens when an unadventurous adventure writer tries to re-create the original expedition to Machu Picchu?
In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and “discovered” Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace...

Describes the discovery in 1911 of the Peruvian ruins called Machu Picchu and presents the various theories of the function of this city in the ancient Inca civilization.

"Describes the mystery of Machu Picchu, one of the ancient wonders of the world, including how and why it was built, the emperor who lived there, why it was abandoned, and what the ruin is like today"--

"Built in the fifteenth century and tucked away in the mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu was abandoned after the Spaniards conquered the Incan empire in the sixteenth century. It remained hidden until 1911 when Hiram Bingham uncovered the marvelous complex and shared his discovery with the world. Today, hundreds of thousands of people visit the site to climb the 3,000 stone steps, explore the towering monuments, and see the numerous species that call...

"A leading expert on pre-Columbian archaeology, Johan Reinhard has spent more than 25 years examining sacred landscape in the contexts of Inca and pre-Inca cultures and the beliefs of modern-day Andean peoples. He has discovered several pre-Columbian sanctuaries, including some of the highest summits of the Andes." "In 1991 Reinhard first published Machu Picchu: The Sacred Center, presenting evidence that the site's spectacular setting and much of...