September 2009 - On Top of the World Communities Info

26 The World News® September 2009WorldTravelerBill ShampineLast May, this column contained a discussionon the New Seven Wonders of theWorld. One of those sites was Machu Picchu,located in Peru. John and Jane Bauer(Providence residents) recently returnedfrom a trip to Peru, which included a visitto this fascinating Incan city.Machu Picchu (“Old Peak”) is one of themost famous artifacts of the Incan Empire.It is located in south-central Peru, about43 miles northwest of Cuzco, the old Incancapital. Often referred to as “The LostCity of the Incans,” it is built on the topof a ridge in the Andean Mountains at anelevation of about 8,000 feet.Although there are many theories, noone really knows why the Incan EmperorPachacuti built the city in 1462 in sucha remote location. Its remoteness did,however, protect it from the Spanish conquistadoreswho came to Peru in the late1400s and early 1500s in search of goldand other riches. Smallpox and harsh governanceby the Spanish ultimately led tothe destruction of the Incan Empire.The city eventually fell into disuse andwas abandoned in the late 1500s. Becausethe Spanish never found Machu Picchu, itwas not destroyed, and now is one of themost important archaeological sites inSouth America.There is some evidence that the remainsof Machu Picchu were discoveredas early as 1867 and visited in 1901 andJohn and Jane Bauer at Machu Picchu, Peru.1906. It did not become famous, however,until it was “discovered” in 1911 by HiramBingham, an American historian employedby Yale University, and then featuredin the April 1913 issue of NationalGeographic magazine. Zoom—instant celebrity!The uniqueness of Machu Picchu liesin the fact that it is such a well-preservedexample of the Incan culture during itsheyday. The city supported about 500people at its zenith and was completelyself-sufficient.The Incans terraced enough of the landsurrounding the city to meet their agriculturalneeds. Natural springs met theirwater supply needs and a complex canalsystem moved the water to where it wasneeded for crops, fountains and homeuse. After hiking a bit of the Inca Trail, theBauers believethe residentsmust have hadp h e n o m e n a llegs and lungs!The Bauerswere impressedwith the constructionof thebuildings. Assome of the beststonemasons inthe world, theIncans groundthe buildingblocks to thepoint wherethey fit togetherso well therewas no need formortar.John alsopointed out that design details such astrapezoidal doors and windows, strategicPhoto by John Bauertilting and inclination of walls, and periodicuse of “L”-shaped blocks to tie wallstogether, helped make the constructionhighly earthquake resistant.One of the primary functions of MachuPhoto by John BauerA detailed view of some of the intricatestone work in Machu Picchu, Peru.Picchu seemsto be one ofastronomicalobservatory.The IntihuatanaStone, commonlycalled“The HitchingPost of theSun,” is a largecubical blockof stone witha rectangularpillar of stonerising from thetop. At middayon March 21and Sept. 21,the equinoxes,the sun will bedirectly abovethe pillar andcast no shadow, thus fixing two points ofthe calendar.