Ever since its rediscovery in 1911, Machu Picchu has acted as an archaeological magnet, capturing and drawing in the attention of countless researchers, historians, and tourists. Located between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin, Machu Picchu is a site of incredible fascination due to both its historical and scientific contributions as well as its emotional contributions, demonstrating a significant and even precious connection between object and man. In this essay, I will not only expand upon Machu Picchu’s historical and scientific significance through Hiram Bingham’s collection methods as well as the Inca’s complex construction methods, but will also tie in the site’s emotional significance as it is a site that reflects the human desire
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In order to fully understand the history of the lost site and lost people, Bingham and his team focused their expedition on science by using scientific collecting practices, technology, and analysis. By analyzing the remains and objects of the Incas left behind at the site and found in the various grave sites, Bingham and his team took part in strategic “grave robbing” as they collected skeletal remains, pottery, metalwork, and other textiles (Hall 2012). Although the collection practices of Bingham and his team may seem controversial and give evidence to both the current and past debates over the morality and ethical implications of taking and using the bones of others for research, the uncovering of the Inca civilization and what defines their culture would have been impossible without such “salvage ethnography” (Hall 2012). The research carried out by Bingham and his team was necessary not only because the site was deemed “in great need of scientific exploration” by the Royal Geographical Society of Bingham’s time, but also because of the dire need to respond to the scientific search of Inca origins and to investigate the account of the potential, but unknown fall of the Incas to the Spaniards possibly during their conquest of pre-Columbian societies (Hall 2012). The objects extracted …show more content…
In Bingham’s field notes, he quotes a portion from Rudyard Kipling’s poetry book The Explore stating, “Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look behind the Ranges—Something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go!” (Bingham 1922; Hall 2012). These words demonstrate that there is an overwhelming sense and human desire to explore. Kipling’s words not only resonated and inspired Bingham, but have and will continue to resonate and inspire future generations of explorers, archaeologists, and historians. Without such longing, inspiration, and even obsession to unlock the mysteries of Machu Picchu and other great sites of this world, we would not be able to simultaneously unpack the history and gain insight to our
In order to fully understand the history of the lost site and lost people, Bingham and his team focused their expedition on science by using scientific collecting practices, technology, and analysis. By analyzing the remains and objects of the Incas left behind at the site and found in the various grave sites, Bingham and his team took part in strategic “grave robbing” as they collected skeletal remains, pottery, metalwork, and other textiles (Hall 2012). Although the collection practices of Bingham and his team may seem controversial and give evidence to both the current and past debates over the morality and ethical implications of taking and using the bones of others for research, the uncovering of the Inca civilization and what defines their culture would have been impossible without such “salvage ethnography” (Hall 2012). The research carried out by Bingham and his team was necessary not only because the site was deemed “in great need of scientific exploration” by the Royal Geographical Society of Bingham’s time, but also because of the dire need to respond to the scientific search of Inca origins and to investigate the account of the potential, but unknown fall of the Incas to the Spaniards possibly during their conquest of pre-Columbian societies (Hall 2012). The objects extracted …show more content…
In Bingham’s field notes, he quotes a portion from Rudyard Kipling’s poetry book The Explore stating, “Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look behind the Ranges—Something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go!” (Bingham 1922; Hall 2012). These words demonstrate that there is an overwhelming sense and human desire to explore. Kipling’s words not only resonated and inspired Bingham, but have and will continue to resonate and inspire future generations of explorers, archaeologists, and historians. Without such longing, inspiration, and even obsession to unlock the mysteries of Machu Picchu and other great sites of this world, we would not be able to simultaneously unpack the history and gain insight to our