Machu Picchu, Wrongly Called For More Than A Century, Now Has Its True Name Revealed

For over 100 years, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, Machu Picchu, has been known by the wrong name, according to a report published in Ñawpa Pacha: Journal of the Institute of Andean Studies.
Recently, a report issued in Ñawpa Pacha: Journal of the Institute of Andean Studies, revealed that Machu Picchu, one of the greatest archaeological sites on Earth, has been known by the wrong name, for more than a century. The report claimed that the Incas who erected the prehistoric city might have named it Huayna Picchu.
Huayna means “new” or “young”, while Picchu is translated to “mountain peak” in the Indigenous Quechua language, according to Emily Dean, professor of anthropology at Southern Utah University, who wasn’t involved in the report. Meanwhile, Machu means “old”, thus the site has been called “Old Mountain Peak”, she continued.
Scientists think that the Incan settlement was constructed around 1420 as an estate for regal Incas residing in Cuzco, Incan empire’s capital, said author Brian Bauer, professor of anthropology from the University of Illinois. Huayna Picchu was forsaken after Spanish invasion, hidden for hundreds of years deep in the Andes mountains until its rediscovery by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.

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Lost in translation

In his field notes, Bingham opted to name the ancient city Machu Picchu, thanks to the data granted by a local farmer, Melchor Arteaga, who was also his guide. Meanwhile, Bauer discovered evidence that Machu Picchu had its original name different when conducting studies in Machu Picchu.
Co-author Donato Amado Gonzales, historian from the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, independently found the same feature, leading to him and Bauer decided to team up and reveal the true name together. They started by examining Bingham’s notes, where he stated he was unsure of the remnants’ name when he first traveled to the site.
From there, Bauer and Gonzales were able to review the maps and atlases issued before and after Bingham’s arrival. Bauer said that one of the most interesting records included a report from 1588 claiming that the Indigenous people of the Vilcabamba region were considering returning to Huayna Picchu.

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Emily Dean believed that the name error isn’t quite astonishing, as several non-Peruvian archaeologists didn’t work hard in researching the names of places, leading them failing to fully comprehend Quechua. “More broadly, this finding challenges the popular narrative that Hiram Bingham discovered Machu Picchu,” she said. Locals had known about the site long before Bingham arrived.

A name change is unlikely

Despite the discovery of the area's original name, it's likely to remain Machu Picchu, Bauer said. "We would not suggest that the name be changed since Machu Picchu is known worldwide," he added.
Machu Picchu is also published in thousands of books, articles, advertisements and legal documents, Dean said. The Peruvian people and their government have embraced the new name, so while it's an interesting addition to the history of the site, it won't change the modern name, she noted.