New technology reveals large pre-Inca civilization in the high-elevation Peruvian Andes

Nov 12, 2019 | 1 comment

The Wat’a mountaintop site in Peru.

By Joel Day

Researchers have uncovered a huge settlement that pre-dates Machu Picchu in an unprecedented South American ancient civilization discovery. Scientists made the discovery in the Peruvian Andes, at about 13,000 feet, with cutting-edge technology that has paved the way for several archaeological finds.

Albert Lin, an explorer for National Geographic, along with archaeologists Adan Cheque Arce and Thomas Hardy, used a revolutionary technology known as LiDar (light detection and ranging) to expose the full extent of the city.

They found a settlement that rests in an archaeological zone known as Wat’a, translated from the indigenous language as “island”. This “island” is at an altitude of 13,000 feet, around 5,000 feet higher than the monstrously tall 15 century citadel of Machu Picchu, the crowning glory of the Inca civilization.

Lin said: “It is very challenging to get there. You’re at around 13,000 feet of elevation and its mostly open landscape because there’s not a lot of trees around, so you’re basically baking in the high altitude sun, all the way up.”

National Geographic explorer Albert Lin

“When you’re up there, you have these grand vistas — all the surrounding mountains that are really gorgeous — and the site itself, which sits above that mountain, is a perfect viewpoint down to all the different valleys that are coming up as a trade route, maybe possibly even towards the site that would one day become Machu Picchu.”

The city has previously been investigated using traditional archaeological methods, with scientists on the ground uncovering evidence of tombs, ceremonial plazas, residential areas and a large surrounding wall. By using LiDar, however, the researchers were able to reveal a number of never before seen features of the settlement.

The nature of the landscape — blanketed in thick shrubs, forestry and cacti, often makes it difficult for ground and fieldwork to be of any benefit. The technology essentially enabled researchers to “see through” the dense foliage, revealing layer upon layer of ancient ground.

Drones carried the LiDar technology high above the settlement to get a panoramic view. The instruments then fired pulses of laser light towards the ground hundreds of thousands of times per second.

This data was collected and used to create detailed 3D maps to reveal the topography of the land and any ancient man-made features that are not normally visible. The technology proved its worth, enabling the team to identify classic Inca terracing and circular structures associated with the pre-Incas.

Machu Picchu

Lin said: “In one fell swoop, we can delete that shrub and all of sudden, the whole mountain became this terrace-shaped place, just like Machu Picchu — those terraces moving all the way up, although at a smaller scale, of course, and with less detail. “You get this sense that the pre-Inca and the Inca, they moved mountains,” he said.

The settlements discovery is particularly interesting as it provides another instance of the Inca building on top of an earlier pre-Inca settlement. The researchers also drew attention to the fact that the site was, in a way, a template for Machu Picchu.

Lin said: “See it as an evolution on their pathway towards Machu Picchu. I think it’s quite an inspiring place to be.”

Last month, Lin also announced the discovery of an elaborate tunnel system in the city of Acre, Israel, that was home to warrior monks of the crusades, who used the tunnels to transport vast amount of treasure. Lin’s group was able to reconstruct through CGI what they had already found in the area to get a sense of the scale of what the fortress would once have looked like.

The result was a huge coastal citadel, that would have been the base for the Knights Templar to hold their loot, supplies and weaponry — and would have acted as the first point of entry for any foreign enemy attempting to rush the city.
__________________

Credit: The Express, www.express.co.uk

CuencaHighLife

Dani News

Google ad

Google ad

The Cuenca Dispatch

Week of March 24

“They are pressuring me to resign so they can remove me from office,” denounced Verónica Abad, Vice President of the Republic.

Read more

Ecuador Navigates Economic Challenges with IMF Agreement Looming.

Read more

“Since when does thinking differently mean being a traitor?” Pierina Correa questions in reference to the Tourism Law.

Read more

Property 3br News

Fund Grace News

Hogar Esperanza News