A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Dominika Sieczkowska from the Adean Research Center at the University of Warsaw (Poland) utilized LiDAR, an advanced surveying technology that employs laser beams to detect hidden structures.
Chachabamba Ritual Area of the Incas – (Photo: Shutterstock).
LiDAR has “pierced through” the dense Central American rainforest and layers of centuries-old underbrush to identify 12 small structures built on circular and rectangular foundations in the outskirts of the Chachabamba complex, a renowned cluster of temples and ceremonial architecture of the Incas located within the Machu Picchu National Park.
These structures are referred to as “small” in comparison to the grand temples and pyramids of the nearby Incas, yet they are still relatively spacious houses believed to have been inhabited by those responsible for operating and maintaining the Chachabamba ritual site during the Incas’ golden age.
Artifacts discovered at these ghostly buildings indicate that the inhabitants were primarily women.
The survey also unveiled a previously unknown section of a canal system designed to channel water from the nearby Urubamba River to serve Chachabamba, according to Heritage Daily. This remarkable discovery once again highlights the “modernity” of Inca civilization, showcasing their superior scientific and technical capabilities compared to contemporary civilizations, despite being shrouded in the mystique of unique rituals and beliefs.
