Machu Picchu Site Museum

Museum Collections:

The archaeological investigations carried out after the discovery of the Inca City, result in a collection of 250 Inca objects, among stone articles, metals, ceramics, bones and others, found in Machu Picchu, on the Inca trail and surroundings.

The exhibition of objects will allow you to see lithic artifacts, used in the construction of the Inca city; nails, fasteners, rings used to tie the roof beams, “percutores” made of different types of rocks (granite, andesite, basalt), pebbles, among others. But after seeing these tools, it will be hard to believe that the tools made it possible for the stones to fit perfectly with each other, as well as incredible shapes, carved and engraved in rock.

The collection of objects also contains agricultural tools, qupanas (plows), axes, knives, hunting tools, for military use and others for ceremonial purposes, such as water containers, mini sculptures, “illas” and ornaments. You will also see discs of different diameters, which were used as tapas, fusayolas, geometric shapes, mini zoomorphic sculptures, which should have been used in ritual ceremonies.

Inca metallurgy

The museum exposes the great Inca work with metals and the amazing knowledge that this civilization had, of metal alloy, using air currents for the performance of its furnaces or Wayras, to alloy metals such as copper and tin. You can see collections of pins, truncheons, ornaments, tweezers, mirrors, silver knives, copper and bronze, the bronze cane is one of the most important findings, as well as a metal ornament in the form of “qantu” (national flower of Peru), since the materials with which it was manufactured suggest different manufacturing zones. One of the first techniques used by the Inca society was the laminated metal, for which they had to use enormous sources of heat to achieve a point of malleability that allowed to forge a thinner sheet, this technique allowed them to manufacture bracelets, plates and mirrors.

The Funeral In Machu Picchu

Although most cultures around the world believed in the continuity of life after death, the Inca culture believed that there was a new life after the previous life. Proof of this is the paraphernalia that was deposited with the individuals, as objects of daily use that the deceased possessed and that would be useful in his new life: for example, pans, knives, utensils and ceremonial objects consisting of personal clothing and ornaments , then we are talking about a different conception of the nature of death, which reproduce life models similar to those already known. The funerary rituals in Machu Picchu involved meals and parties, food and drinks were wrapped around the entrance and funerary caves. Samples of what the jars were (to eat and drink) were found around the contexts. It should be noted that the dead Incas were the object of veneration, as they contributed to good harvests, the procreation of animals and the good performance of the communities.

Botanical Garden

The most beautiful, colorful and diverse selection of beautiful orchids could not be missed in this museum. For that reason, a space was prepared in it for the botanical garden, where the cream of the natural environment of Machu Picchu is present. When you appreciate those fascinating flowers, you can understand why the Machu Picchu Sanctuary is known as one of the places with the greatest variety of orchids in the world. In this place you can also find the wakanki, a beautiful red flower, the Yuraq-rup’u, the Zapatito de Ñusta, as well as ferns and avocado trees.