Llactapata (Llaqtapata)

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Llactapata, a lost city rediscovered in 2003

Llactapata is a complex of ruins in the Urubamba Valley close the Vilcanota river and not very far away from Machu Picchu either.

This archaeological site is close to the rail lines on which trains transport travelers between Cuzco and Aguas Calientes.

The site was first discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912, just after he came across Machu Picchu. 

Llactapata is a relatively large complex, substantially larger than Písac, but smaller than Machu Picchu.

The discovery and rediscovery of Llactapata

Bingham conducted few investigations of the site and Llactapata was left in the valley forgotten for over 80 years, until a team of experts, known as the Ziegler-Thomson expeditions came across it in May 2003.

After he came across Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham gave less importance to Llactapata, his exploration of the zone was rather superficial.

In 1912 Hiram Bingham has scattered teams in the Sacred Valley to find further Inca sites.

The Aobamba Valley near Llactapata was among the "targets", but the jungle was too dense and was infested with poisonous snakes.

The height of the trees also prevented observations, even though the team made heavy effort to chop the obstacles down and make a trail.

Even after cutting the trees, making way with machetes, the trail was soon covered by vegetation just like it was before.

American archaeologist Gary Ziegler and British archaeologist Hugh Thomson, together with Kim Malville (Professor Emeritus of the University of Colorado), were looking for the site called "Llactapata group" in documents by Hiram Bingham. The expedition was supported by the Royal Geographic Society of London.

The explorers have conducted studies of the ridge and mountain slope of Llactapata. As a result of the expedition, Llactapata was uncovered, all its sectors revealed, mapped in detail. The site turned out to be covering a much larger area than initially believed by Bingham.

The experts of the Ziegler-Thomson expedition have also studied the relationship between Llactapata and Machu Picchu from archaeo-astronomical points of view.

It is believed that Llactapata was used for crop production. Incas could have gathered up large quantities of agricultural products and deposited them in the huts that were found by archaeologists.