Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital
Neo-Inca State (1536–1572 CE) jungle capital·Inca Vilcabamba (Manco Inca)·🇵🇪 Cusco, La Convención, Vilcabamba, Espíritu Pampa, Megantoni valley, Peru
About
About Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital
Espíritu Pampa rediscovered by Savoy 1964, lost after 1572 Túpac Amaru execution by Toledo. Recorded context — Period: Neo-Inca State (1536–1572 CE) jungle capital; Culture: Inca Vilcabamba (Manco Inca); Field status: partially excavated; Materials: fieldstone, thatch, Inca tiles; Condition: overgrown — jungle.
Why it mattersKey Inca Vilcabamba (Manco Inca) ancient-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Seasonal gathering
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1539 CE Espíritu Pampa; 1536 Vitcos earlier
- Period
- Neo-Inca State (1536–1572 CE) jungle capital
- Culture
- Inca Vilcabamba (Manco Inca)
- Purpose
- Final Inca jungle capital where Manco Inca fled Pizarro — 300+ buildings over 7 km² low jungle 1450 m
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1922
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1990 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital
c. 1200 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital
c. 1539 CE Espíritu Pampa; 1536 Vitcos earlier
Initial construction / first occupation at Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital
On the ground
Structures & features
12.8750° S · 73.2110° W · 1450 m · 3 mapped features
- Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital — outlier feature12.8757° S · 73.2122° W
- Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital — outlier feature12.8749° S · 73.2099° W
- Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital — Rock_Art Annex 3rock artrock art at Vilcabamba — Espíritu Pampa Lost Inca Capital — primary structure12.8764° S · 73.2119° W
Gallery