July 24, 1911: Hiram Bingham "discovers" Machu Picchu. Of course, the Incas had known where it was, and the locals were aware of the ruins, but Bingham brought the site to world-wide attention. Bingham is considered to be the model for Indiana Jones -- not a professional archaeologist, but a professor and enthusiastic adventurer.July 24, 1911: Hiram Bingham "discovers" Machu Picchu. Of course, the Incas had known where it was, and the locals were aware of the ruins, but Bingham brought the site to world-wide attention. Bingham is considered to be the model for Indiana Jones -- not a professional archaeologist, but a professor and enthusiastic adventurer.
July 24, 1911: Hiram Bingham "discovers" Machu Picchu. Of course, the Incas had known where it was, and the locals were aware of the ruins, but Bingham brought the site to world-wide attention. Bingham is considered to be the model for Indiana Jones -- not a professional archaeologist, but a professor and enthusiastic adventurer.