Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
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| Sanctuary of Machu Picchu | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Sanctuary of Machu Picchu |
| Location | Cusco Region, Peru |
| Coordinates | 13°09′S 72°32′W |
| Area | 32,592 ha |
| Established | 1981 |
| Designation | Historic Sanctuary, UNESCO World Heritage Site |
Sanctuary of Machu Picchu The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a protected landscape and archaeological reserve centered on the 15th-century Machu Picchu citadel in the Cusco Region of Peru. It combines highland Andes ecology, Inca-era monuments associated with the Inca Empire, and later scientific and heritage initiatives linked to institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, National Geographic Society, and UNESCO. The sanctuary is a focal point for research by universities including the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, the University of Cusco, and international teams from Harvard University and the University of Oxford.
History
The protected status derives from national and international actions following rediscovery by Hiram Bingham III in 1911 and earlier indigenous knowledge tied to communities like the Quechua people. Peruvian legislation in the 20th century created frameworks such as the Gaceta de Lima notices and the designation of Machu Picchu as a Historic Sanctuary in 1981 under the administration of the Ministry of Culture (Peru). UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 1983, following campaigns by scholars including John Rowe and institutions like the Field Museum of Natural History. The sanctuary's management has been influenced by regional authorities such as the Regional Government of Cusco and national policies during presidencies from Fernando Belaúnde Terry to Alan García Pérez and Ollanta Humala.
Geography and Environment
The sanctuary occupies steep terrain in the Vilcabamba mountain range of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes Mountains. It includes river corridors of the Vilcanota River and altitudinal zones ranging from montane cloud forest to high Andean grassland (puna), supporting species documented by researchers from the Peruvian National Institute of Natural Resources and the World Wildlife Fund. Flora lists include endemic taxa studied alongside conservation programs by Conservation International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Faunal surveys have recorded mammals such as the spectacled bear and bird species like the Andean cock-of-the-rock, with ecological monitoring coordinated by the Ministry of Environment (Peru) and NGOs such as Nature Conservancy.
Archaeology and Architecture
Archaeological investigations within the sanctuary have documented terracing, urban sectors, and ceremonial zones attributed to the Inca Empire and earlier occupation phases linked to the Killke culture. Excavations led by teams from Yale University and the Peabody Museum revealed construction techniques using finely cut andesite blocks and mortarless ashlar masonry comparable to work at Sacsayhuamán and Ollantaytambo. Architectural analysis highlights features such as the Intihuatana stone, the Temple of the Sun, and the agricultural terraces, with stratigraphy and radiocarbon studies conducted by laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology contributing to chronology debates involving scholars like Winston H. Helfrich and Richard L. Burger.
Cultural and Religious Significance
The sanctuary encompasses landscapes revered by the Quechua people and sites of ritual astronomy associated with the Inca state religion devoted to Inti (Inca sun god), with ethnographic parallels drawn to practices recorded in colonial Peru archives by chroniclers such as Pedro Cieza de León. Contemporary cultural importance is reflected in ceremonies conducted by local communities and in intangible heritage initiatives involving the Ministry of Culture (Peru) and indigenous organizations. The site is also referenced in debates about cultural patrimony involving museums like the Yale Peabody Museum and repatriation cases connected to figures such as Hiram Bingham III.
Conservation and Management
Management frameworks combine national regulation under the Ministry of Culture (Peru) with international guidelines from UNESCO and conservation projects supported by entities including the World Bank and bilateral cooperation with agencies like the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. Challenges include erosion, landslides exacerbated by seasonal precipitation patterns linked to El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and pressures from unregulated development along the Cusco–Aguas Calientes corridor. Strategies employ zoning, visitor caps, and infrastructure controls informed by environmental impact assessments by consultants and research from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and regional planning by the Municipality of Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Tourism and Access
Access to the sanctuary is primarily via the railway corridor from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, operated by companies such as Inca Rail and PeruRail, and by trekking routes including the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek, and alternative approaches documented by tour operators and guides certified through the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (SERNANP). Visitor management responses have included advance booking systems, limits instituted following UNESCO recommendations, and collaborative initiatives with hoteliers in Aguas Calientes and transport regulators under the Peruvian Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Research and Discoveries
Ongoing multidisciplinary research involves archaeology, paleoecology, and conservation science with contributions from institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, the Natural History Museum, London, and the American Museum of Natural History. Notable discoveries include new artifact assemblages, bioarchaeological analyses of human remains, dendrochronological studies, and geomorphological mapping supported by satellite imagery from agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency. Collaborative projects address questions about Inca urbanism, agricultural intensification, and climate adaptation, integrating data published in journals such as Nature, Science, and the Journal of Archaeological Science.
Category:Archaeological sites in Peru Category:Protected areas of Peru