01/06/2018
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel can be found nestled in the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes. 83 whitewashed casitas stand in the cloud forest, welcoming adventurous Inkaterra guests. The hotel is an ideal spot to host those looking to explore the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, but the site of Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel also has a few historical secrets of its own. Scientists have been decoding these secrets, and we want to share some of these discoveries.
Grupo IBeA-Química Analítica and the Ministry of Culture are carrying out scientific research on site. The group are analysing geometric shapes and colours of rock art found at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. For years scientists have used discoveries such as this to learn more about the people who lived in the area and to uncover history of place. The drawings found depict quotidian life of Machu Picchu Pueblo natives. It is thought that the rock, adorned with geometric pictograms, is itself of religious and sacred meaning. This implies that people visited the area at certain times of the year in celebration and perhaps was a place of offerings.
In order to analyse these paintings, sketched by the natives of Machu Picchu, the team used Raman spectroscopy and a scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy dispersive spectrometer. This allowed the scientists to explore the molecular and elementary aspects of the rock. In fact they determined that the orange colour was not at all orange to begin with. The colour appeared thanks to the colonisation of microorganisms favoured by the climate conditions in the area. The black colors were obtained due to the vegetal coal and the red, hematite pigments that could have come from red ocher extracted from soils that were used. Guests themselves can marvel at the Sacred Rock as part of some of the hotel’s in-house included and programmed guided excursions.
Scientists continue to explore the secrets of Peru and Machu Picchu, and you can to at Inkaterra. To find out how to go on a journey of history and culture with our hotels click here. To read more about the discoveries at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel click here.
