Homage to those who discovered Machu-Picchu
These two plaques are found on the left shortly after the main public entrance to Machu Picchu. I think they embody the current Peruvian thinking about “discoverers” of yesteryear. My experience is that although generally grateful for recognizing the finding and putting Machu Picchu on the world stage, the notion that the famed explorer Hiram Bingham ‘discovered’ it is a bit fanciful. As the local story goes, he was hand-led to it by a child while the rest of the mostly Peruvian archaeological party remained back with the current resident (naturally telling stories and having drinks).
Plaque on the left: “Homage to Hiram Bingham on the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu 1911, Jul 24, 1961
Plaque on the right: “The Cusco National Institute of Culture pays homage to Melchor Ortega Richarte and Alvarez who resided in Machu Picchu before Hiram Bingham. October 1993″
Location: -13.165, -72.543