Peru on Thursday celebrated the 100th anniversary of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu by American adventurer and archaeologist Hiram Bingham.
Historians have dismissed claims that Bingham discovered Machu Picchu. Historians believes that Peruvian got there before Bingham and a German, Augusto R.
Berns, might have looted the site in the late 19th century long before his arrival.
President Alan Garcia travelled Peru to join celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu, which were marked by Andean rituals and live music.
The number of visitors peaked at 858,000 in 2008 but has now been capped at 1,800 a day on the recommendation of UNESCO - which amounted to 700,000 visitors in 2010, Fernando Astete, director of the Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu told the Telegraph.
Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site which is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru.
Archaeologists believes that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472) and is referred as the Lost City of the Incas.
Machu Picchu, The Lost City of the Incas, was elected as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World in July 2007.
A view of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco in this November, 2003 file photo. The Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan and Brazil's statue of Christ the Redeemer have been chosen to be among the modern-day seven Wonders of the World, the organizers of the competition said on July 7, 2007. The other four are Peru's Machu Picchu, the mountain settlement that symbolises the Incan empire, Mexico's Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal in India.ReutersA view of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco May 29, 2009. Picture taken May 29. REUTERS/Enrique Castro-MendivilReutersTourist visit the Machu Picchu ruins, April 1, 2010. The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was reopened after heavy rains cut off tourist access to the ruins for two months.ReutersArtists perform during an Inca ceremony called "Tinkay" at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco July 7, 2011. Peru celebrates on Thursday 100 years of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu by U.S. adventurer and archaeologist Hiram Bingham. Machu Picchu, "The Lost City of the Incas", was elected as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World in July 2007.ReutersPeople watch a lighting performance during a ceremony at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco July 7, 2011. Peru celebrates the 100th anniversary of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu by U.S. adventurer and archaeologist Hiram Bingham. Machu Picchu ?The Lost City of the Incas? was elected as one of the 7th New Wonders of the World in July 2007.ReutersPerformers attend a lighting show at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco July 7, 2011. Peru celebrated on Thursday the 100th anniversary of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu by American adventurer and archaeologist Hiram Bingham. Machu Picchu, "The Lost City of the Incas", was elected as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World in July 2007.ReutersThe Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is seen during a lighting performance in Cuzco July 7, 2011. Peru celebrated on Thursday the 100th anniversary of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu by American adventurer and archaeologist Hiram Bingham. Machu Picchu, "The Lost City of the Incas", was elected as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World in July 2007.Reuters
