This excellent interdisciplinary collection focuses on the nature of Machu Picchu as a royal estate owned by Pachacuti Inca, offering readers a broader understanding of the site in light of current archaeological, historical, anthropological, and architectural research. Despite Machu Picchu’s magnificence and perennial appeal as a tourist site, few publications provide such a comprehensive overview of this important Inca settlement in light of recent scientific research. Articles from both Peruvian and U.S. scholars address the function and evolution of Machu Picchu from different perspectives. One of the most interesting aspects addresses the changing roles of the site, from an icon symbolizing the imperial power of Pachacuti Inca to its modern role as an emblem of Peruvian identity. The book provides a new vision of Machu Picchu based on the reanalysis of materials from the Yale University excavations directed by Hiram Bingham in 1912 and a reevaluation of Bingham’s initials interpretations....

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