Cradle of Gold

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In 1911, a young Peruvian boy guided American explorer Hiram Bingham to the ancient Incan citadel of Machu Picchu, a remarkable settlement of temples and palaces hidden in the Andes. Bingham, confident and charismatic, believed this site was the Incas' last refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors. His discoveries brought Machu Picchu to global fame, casting him as a romanticized hero akin to Indiana Jones. However, his excavation sparked debates about conquest and cultural plunder, igniting a wave of indigenous nationalism that reshaped Peruvian history. While Bingham achieved his goal of transporting Inca artifacts back to the U.S., the ongoing conflict between Yale and Peru over the ownership of Inca history remains unresolved. Christopher Heaney's grand narrative immerses readers in Peru's past, recounting the dramatic decline of the Incan empire, the thrilling recovery of their cities, and the contentious struggle for their legacy. Drawing from original research in untapped archives, Heaney vividly captures the stunning landscape and intricate history of a region that continues to evoke both admiration and controversy today.