This map, drawn by Albert H. Bumstead in 1912, shows the location of the ruins of Machu Picchu following an expedition led by Hiram Bingham and Yale University.

Although it has been said on several occasions that Hiram Bingham discovered Machu Picchu, the reality is that this place had been known to local people for centuries. In addition, several Peruvian and European expeditions had explored the valley and these ruins on multiple occasions throughout the 19th century and early 20th century. Some examples include the explorations of German Herman Göring in 1877 and Peruvian Agustín Lizárraga in 1902.

Hiram Bingham was the first to produce a complete photographic report, thanks to which this iconic site of the Inca Empire became popular. To draw up this map, Albert H. Bumstead used these photographs, as well as topographical measurements taken by several researchers who accompanied Bingham on his expedition.

Sources

• Bingham's 1912 map of Machu Picchu