Hiram Bingham explored Machu Picchu in 1911 and on later expeditions, although local residents already knew the site. The Torreón, or Temple of the Sun, was built from fine white-granite ashlar around a natural cave—not carved from living rock. Its curved wall follows the rock and was fitted with exceptionally close joints. Bingham praised the masonry and said its beauty surpassed the best Inca walls in Cusco. The cave was traditionally identified as Pachacuti’s burial place, but no royal tomb has been established. A window aligns with the June-solstice sunrise.
Temple of the Sun and fine Inca stonework at Machu Picchu
PeruArchitecture
Site mentioned
Key facts
- Hiram Bingham explored Machu Picchu in 1911 and returned in 1912 and 1914–15; local residents already knew the site.
- The Torreón, or Temple of the Sun, was built around a natural cave, not carved from living rock.
- Its curved wall follows the natural rock and uses finely fitted white-granite ashlar with no visible mortar.
- Bingham praised the close-fitting masonry and said its beauty surpassed the best Inca walls in Cusco.
- One natural cave beneath the Torreón was traditionally identified as Pachacuti's burial place, but it is not established as a royal mausoleum.
- A window in the Torreón is aligned with the June-solstice sunrise.
Sources
Never fear, there is a simple solution to this Peruvian ...yaledailynews.com
The issue at hand is the liberation of several thousand artifacts from Peru in the early 1900's by the fearless Yale explorer Hiram Bingham III, for whom ...
Machu Picchu Unveiled: Why Hiram Bingham Didn't “Discover” Itthecollector.com
This was not, however, a true discovery; local communities had long been aware of its existence. The truth behind Bingham's work challenges ...
Finding Machu Picchu: A Look at Explorer Hiram Bingham, A Real ...nationalgeographic.com
A Yale University history lecturer named Hiram Bingham III climbed to the top of a mountain ridge in Peru and encountered one of the most extraordinary sets of ...
Prof. Hiram Bingham of Yale Makes the Greatest Archaeological ...nytimes.com
Hiram Bingham of Yale Makes the Greatest Archaeological Discovery of the Age by Locating and Excavating Ruins of Machu Picchu on a Peak of the Andes in Peru.; ...
Machu Picchu Temple of the Sun | MACHUPICCHU.CENTERmachupicchu.center
Underneath the temple is a cave, accessible only from the temple itself, which was believed to have been the burial site of Pachacutec.
The Gran Cavern Or Temple Of The Moon In Machu Picchuabexpeditions.com
Discover the Moon Temple and Gran Cavern at Machu Picchu: their Inca origins, spiritual significance, and how to include them in your visit.
Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchuticketmachupicchu.com
The temple of the sun is an enclosure built on a natural cave. Due to its high location and fine styling, it is considered a religious building to worship the ...
Temple of the Moon (Peru)en.wikipedia.org
The Temple of the Moon is an Incan ceremonial temple on Huayna Picchu near Machu Picchu, in Peru. The site is made up of stone masonry and an open-face, shallow ...
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