COMPLETION REPORT ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE CULTURA EXPLORATION OF THE INCA TRAIL, EAST FLANK OF MACHU PICCHU & PALYNOLOGY OF TERRACES Wright Water Engineers, Inc. Wright Paleohydrological Institute May 2000 COMPLETIONCOMPLETION REPORTREPORT INSTITUTOINSTITUTO NACIONALNACIONAL DEDE CULTURACULTURA ARCHAEOLOGICALARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONEXPLORATION OFOF THETHE INCAINCA TRAIL,TRAIL, EASTEAST FLANKFLANK OFOF MACHUMACHU PICCHUPICCHU && PALYNOLOGYPALYNOLOGY OF OF Kenneth R. Wright, P.E.; TERRACESTERRACES Alfredo Valencia Zegarra, Ph.D.; Christopher M. Crowley With: Ives Bejar Mendoza, Licenciado; Ruth M. Wright, J.D.; Scott A. Marshall, P.E.; . Linda Scott− Cummings, Ph.D. Scientific Consultant: Dr. Gordon McEwan WrightWright WaterWater Engineers,Engineers, Inc.Inc. WrightWright PaleohydrologicalPaleohydrological InstituteInstitute MayMay 20002000 PRÓLOGO PREFACE Este informe de exploración arqueológico al Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) describe el camino Inca This archaeological exploration report to the Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) describes the primary principal que va desde Machu Picchu hasta el Río Vilcanota. Este camino se considera como una Inca trail leading from Machu Picchu to the Vilcanota River. This trail is judged to be an extension of the extensión del camino Inca muy frequentada que va desde el kilómetro 88 hasta Machu Picchu. well-traveled Inca trail from kilometer 88 to Machu Picchu. Nuestra exploración arqueológica de septiembre de 1999 fue un seguimiento lógico a las excavaciones Our archaeological exploration of September 1999 was a logical follow through to the excavations of five realizadas en las cinco fuentes inferiores del flanco oriental en 1998. En aquel entonces, nos dimos lower east flank fountains in 1998. At that time, we realized that a wide granite stone built trail cuenta de que un camino ancho y construido de piedra de granito conectaba tres de las cinco fuentes y connected three of the five fountains and that this trail had to be an important trail down from Machu que ese camino tenía que ser un camino importante que bajaba de Machu Picchu debido a su gran Picchu because of its grand character. carácter. During the archaeological exploration the Machu Picchu Paleohydrological Project Team was impressed by Durante la exploración arqueológico de Machu Picchu se impresionó muchisimo por la lejanía del flanco the apparent remoteness of the east flank of Machu Picchu even though it is so close to the main site with oriental a pesar de su cercanía al sitio principal que contaba con tanta gente. La abundancia de so many people. The abundance of snakes, birds and all sorts of insects, coupled with the dense forest serpientes, aves, y todo tipo de insectos y además un bosque denso y el muy poco frequente Oso and rare Bespectacled Bear was testimony to the wilderness-like nature of the east flank. Manchado fue testimonio al estado virginal del flanco oriental. While this Inca trail is a likely future tourist attraction and a potential alternative route up to Machu Picchu A pesar de que este camino Inca sea una probable atracción turística en el futuro además de ser una for eco-tourists, it would seem prudent to maintain the east flank habitat as a place for the Bespectacled potencial ruta alternativa para que los eco-turistas suban a Machu Picchu, parecería prudente mantener el Bear to live and thrive. habitat del flanco oriental como un sitio donde el Oso Manchado pueda vivir y prosperar. The authors of this report are indebted to the INC for the issuance of archaeological permits and their Los autores de este reporte están endeudados con el INC por los permisos arqueológicos y su ayuda tan unselfish and generous assistance throughout the entire Paleohydrological investigations, starting in 1994. generosa a través de todas las investigaciones Paleohidrólicas iniciaron en 1994. Appreciation is expressed to Mayor Dr. Jose Soto of Aguas Calientes and Vice Mayor Sr. Ferman Diaz who Se extiende un agradecimiento especial al Presidente Municipal Dr. José Soto de Aguas Calientes y El provided encouragement and the hospitality of Aguas Calientes that was the base of our operations. Vicepresidente Municipal Sr. Fermín Diaz que proporcionaron el apoyo y hospitalidad de Aguas Calientes The authors are also indebted to Wright Water Engineers, Inc. and the Wright Paleohydrological Institute que fue la base de nuestras operaciones. for their funding of archeological exploration and for providing both technical assistance and financial Los autores también están endeudados con Wright Water Engineers Inc. y con Wright Paleohydrological support for this report. Institute por las donaciones a la exploración arqueológica y por proporcionar tanto la ayuda técnica y el The beauty and strength of Inca architecture and engineering on this east flank trail to the Vilcanota River apoyo económico para este informe. is an inspiration to us today. La bellaza y la fuerza de la arquitectura e ingeniería Inca que se encuentra en este camino del flanco oriental hacía el Río Vilcanota es una gran inspiración para todos nosotros hoy día. The Authors May 2000 Los Autores Mayo 2000 This report has been registered with the United States Library of Congress for copyright purposes in May 2000. This report may be freely quoted and copied without permission but with credit to Wright Water Engineers, Inc. and Wright Paleohydrological Institute. Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS 4.7 Trail To the Temple of the Moon _________________________________________________ 15 1.0 INTRODUCTION _________________________________________________ 1 4.8 Trail to Huayna Picchu _________________________________________________________ 15 1.1 East Flank Inca Trail ___________________________________________________________ 1 5.0 POLLEN SAMPLE COLLECTION PROGRAM FOR MACHU PICCHU AGRICULTURAL 1.2 Agricultural Terraces ___________________________________________________________ 2 TERRACES _____________________________________________________15 1.3 Fountains ____________________________________________________________________ 2 5.1 1998 Pollen Samples __________________________________________________________ 15 2.0 TRAIL EXPLORATION _____________________________________________ 3 5.2 1999 Pollen Samples __________________________________________________________ 15 2.1 Field Instrument Survey of Trail___________________________________________________ 3 6.0 POLLEN TESTING RESULTS ________________________________________16 2.2 Trail Views ___________________________________________________________________ 4 7.0 FLORA OF MACHU PICCHU _________________________________________18 2.3 Trail Connections in Machu Picchu ________________________________________________ 5 8.0 FAUNA ________________________________________________________21 2.4 Fountains ____________________________________________________________________ 5 9.0 FUNCTION OF THE INCA TRAIL ON THE EAST FLANK OF MACHU PICCHU _____21 2.41 Excavation of Fountains 3, 4, and 5______________________________________________________ 5 2.42 Hydraulics __________________________________________________________________________ 9 10.0 AUTHORITY, PERSONNEL, AND PROCEDURE ___________________________21 2.5 Hydraulic Innovation ___________________________________________________________ 9 10.1 Authority ____________________________________________________________________ 21 2.6 Water Quality_________________________________________________________________ 9 10.2 Personnel ___________________________________________________________________ 22 2.7 River Hydraulics at Landing______________________________________________________ 9 10.3 Procedure ___________________________________________________________________ 22 2.8 Trail Stability ________________________________________________________________ 10 11.0 RECOMMENDATIONS _____________________________________________22 2.9 Trail Summary Description _____________________________________________________ 10 12.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS____________________________________________22 2.91 The First Section (Qolqas at 14+50 to Inca House at 13+00) ________________________________ 11 BIBLIOGRAPHY _________________________________________________________23 2.92 The Second Section (13+00 to 10+88) __________________________________________________ 11 2.93 The Third Section (10+88 to 8+60)_____________________________________________________ 12 2.94 The Fourth Section (8+60 to 7+28)_____________________________________________________ 12 TABLES 2.95 The Fifth Section (7+28 to 3+40) ______________________________________________________ 12 2.96 The Sixth Section (3+40 to 00+00) _____________________________________________________ 13 Table 1 Inca Trail Measurements 3 3.0 MANDOR PAMPA AND THE ARTEAGA DWELLING PLACE __________________ 14 Table 2 Water Quality Sample Results From September 26, 1998 7 Table 3 Pollen at Machu Picchu 19 4.0 SUMMARY OF THE MACHU PICCHU TRAILS ___________________________ 14 Table 4 Plants Identified as Possible Species in Pollen Testing at Machu Picchu 20 4.1 The Main Trail (“Hatan Ñan”) Cusco—Machu Picchu _________________________________ 14 4.2 The Inca Bridge Trail __________________________________________________________ 14 4.3 The San Miguel Bridge Trail ____________________________________________________ 14 4.4 Lower East Flank Trail_________________________________________________________ 14 4.5 Trail From the Left Bank of the Vilcanota River______________________________________ 15 4.6 Trail on the Right Bank of the Vilcanota River_______________________________________