One of the greatest mysteries of the Inca tribe is their greatest achievement and domain, Machu Picchu. Archaeologists find Machu Picchu fascinating because there is little documentation about the city. This grandiose site has a complex history of conquest and rediscovery. It was a site with multiple uses and famous for its curious location on the edge of a crevasse, but also for its particular and astonishing ruins. Machu Picchu is important because, although there are many mysteries surrounding the city itself, it has given historians and archaeologists a better understanding of how advanced the Incas were and how they lived. Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca city that dominates the Urabamba Valley. about 80 km northwest of Cusco, in the eastern Andes (Figure 1). Its temples were used for sacrifices and religious rituals, its steep hills and canals were used to build roads and bridges, and its terraces were used for agricultural purposes. It is considered by many to be the greatest achievement of the Inca civilization, and this mysterious wonder has much to offer the 3,500 tourists who experience its beauty every day. The “Lost City of the Incas” has a story attached to its name. It is believed to have been built between 1440 and 1450, at the height of Inca rule. Machu Picchu is believed to have been originally built as a sacred religious site, due to its location. Due to the lack of information about the Incas, it is difficult to determine the history of the city between the time of its construction and the Spanish conquest. A conquistador named Francisco Pizarro, in 1532, was exploring the Pacific coast when he found his way to Peru and moved inland....... middle of paper .... ..reveal the equinoxes where the sun was directly overhead and there would be no shadow. This event led the Incas to believe that the sun was “attached” to the rock. Several ceremonies were held around the rock and it was said that any spiritual person who placed their forehead against the stone would gain celestial vision (Turner). Although the Inca Empire has disappeared, Machu Picchu endures. It is undoubtedly the most famous achievement of the Inca Empire. The breathtaking integration created by the Incas with the buildings and natural environment is pure perfection. Machu Picchu proves that there are very likely other archaeological sites that have not yet been discovered and its discovery has helped scientists understand the Incas and learn more about them. Machu Picchu is a piece of history that people can continue to learn about and enjoy today.