Ancient Inca Temple Ruins Revealed

Site Indicates Roads, Irrigation Systems; Fortress Could Pre-Date Incan Empire

(AP)  Archaeologists in Peru have discovered the ruins of an ancient temple, roadway and irrigation systems at a famed fortress overlooking the Inca capital of Cuzco, officials involved with the dig said Thursday.

The temple on the periphery the Sacsayhuaman fortress includes 11 rooms thought to have held mummies and idols, lead archaeologist Oscar Rodriguez told The Associated Press.

The team of archaeologists that made the discoveries believe the structures predated the Inca empire but were then significantly developed and expanded.

"It's from both the Inca and pre-Inca cultures, it has a sequence," Washington Camacho, director of the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, told the AP. "The Incas entered and changed the form of the temple, as it initially had a more rustic architecture."

Archaeologists are still waiting for carbon dating tests, but Camacho said their calculations about the facilities' age are supported by historical references such as ceramics and construction style.

The Inca empire, based in the ancient city of Cuzco, flourished along the western edge of South America during the 1400s, prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the next century.

Today, Cuzco is Peru's main tourism hub and a launching point for visitors to the jungle-shrouded ruins of Machu Picchu, 40 miles northwest.

The temple lies some a little under a mile from zigzagging walls of the Sacsayhuaman fortress, alongside an enormous rock formation believed to be one of the fortress' burial mounds.

"The temple is one of the most important in the Sacsayhuaman site," Camacho said.

Part of the structure was destroyed by dynamite blasts in the early 20th century, when the site was used as a stone quarry.

The roadway, buried for hundreds of years under a meter (a yard) of soil, is believed to have formed part of a network connecting Sacsayhuaman's buildings, according to Camacho.

Archaeologists are also busy unearthing an advanced hydraulic system, which may have been used to supply water to Cuzco during the Inca empire.

The team believes the irrigation system was built by the Ayarmaca, who occupied the region from 900 to 1200. Remnants of Ayarmaca ceramics are scattered throughout the site.

The new excavations, directed by Cuzco's National Culture Institute, began in June 2007 and will continue for another five years, Camacho said.

[libsrweak]

The "arrival" of the Spanish? that''''s a polite way of putting it.


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Posted by Hominatrix53 at 07:06 AM : Mar 17, 2008
+ report abuse

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its just another piece that must happen to have this domino effect..

[libsrweak]

So, let me get this straight: The mayans could not even get the basic relationship between earth and sun correct, YET, they have accuratly predicted the end of the world???

LOL...God, I do love this stuff!


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Posted by X-LEGION-X at 02:59 PM : Mar 17, 2008
+ report abuse


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I think they had technology and understanding of the cosmos that would make you feeble mind go.."HUH?"

[libsrweak]

then you are listening to the wrong "assumptions"

2012 is the year when there would be a huge change in human percerption of reality...SOMETHING BIG WILL HAPPEN that...well.. humans are suppose to be ENLIGHTENED..

those sacrifices are called upon by those "god" to well..again..harness and study human DNA..hence the need for a lot of blood and the closer to the sky approach..its just that humans and its ignorance..always do things in abundance..

[x-legion-x]

LOL, someone mentioned the Mayan calendar of 2012! I love this stuff! According to these nuts, the world will end in 2012, cause thats when the Mayan calendar stops.

NOTE: The Mayans sacrificed people because they thought that the power released from the sacrificed was required to make the sun rise in the morning.

So, let me get this straight: The mayans could not even get the basic relationship between earth and sun correct, YET, they have accuratly predicted the end of the world???

LOL...God, I do love this stuff!

[rf35]

He will find his ''''Destiny'''',the Mayan Calendar 2012 .
Posted by MagicMerlin8

All I gotta say is the world better not try and end in 2012...that''s the year I become eligible for retirement!

[neobrian-2009]

This is probably the only thing that jerk is not responsible for he would though have trouble pronouncing PERU

Posted by jerryomara at 08:23 PM : Mar 14, 2008
------------
Actually Most Americans
Mis-Pronounce ''Peru''
The people who live there,..pronounce it " Pay-roo"

The "arrival" of the Spanish? that''s a polite way of putting it.

[libsrweak]

i bet they would ind text of ancient incan liberals whinning that the incan empire was facist

[j-whitman]

easeup,,,,, Bush thought Cuzco was a cousin & got excited

[j-whitman]

easeup,,,, Naw, Reagan did it --- It''s just that Bush couldn''t keep the secret under covers anymore in the White House

[ssm9451]

Some really stupid posts here!!!

[rickstas]

No intelligent life in here, I see.

[olebd]

Okay. I''ll blame Bush for this one. And Cheney too!

[denn034]

"Anyone blame Bush for ruining the temples yet?"
Posted by easeup

Give it time.

[easeup-2009]

Anyone blame Bush for ruining the temples yet?

[denn034]

"the mormans who came to america from jerusalem invented submarines. aren''''t you sorry you made fun of romney?"
Posted by cpaide

Amateur Mormon archaeologists may make incredible claims but, the Mormon''s church is officially silent where the Book of Mormon and archaeology is concerned. Just thought you should know, cpaide.

[denn034]

"the mormans who came to america from jerusalem invented submarines. aren''''t you sorry you made fun of romney?"
Posted by cpaide

Amateur Mormon archaeologists may make incredible claims but, the Mormon''s church is officially silent where the Book of Mormon and archaeology is concerned. Just thought you should know, cpaide.

[thgdriver]

I wonder if they were able to determine if they preferred satellite or cable television? How about CF lamps? These stories from CBS never have enough information.

[stn_sage]

Cool! I hope the people in charge can unearth, measure, map, and record this area just as fast as they can. These sites are part of human history and should be recorded to expand our knowledge base.

If our environment radically shifts via earthquake, volcanic, tsunamic, or meteorologic activity, this site or others like it could be lost forever!

So, hurry, hurry, hurry!

[nicol1872]

I want to point out the picture is of Machu Picchu when the story is about Sacsayhuaman! I''ve been to both places -- they are 2 completely different places very far apart! CBS is confusing people like Oleander8. It''s like talking about the Brooklyn Bridge while showing a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge. To CBS: If you can''t find a photo, then just post a map!