New Scientist - USA (2022-04-16)

Science of the Incas: Peru

Immerse yourself in the Inca civilisation’s most
important archaeological sites, science and
history while exploring Peru’s beautiful Sacred
Valley. Of course, you will visit Machu Picchu, as
well as get to the heart of how Hiram Bingham
“discovered” it and several other Inca sites just
over 100 years ago.
But the story of the Incas is so much more
than just Machu Picchu. They arranged their
religious sites, or huacas, along a system of
astronomically and calendrically informed lines,
called ceques, centred on the ancient city of
Cusco, a further highlight of this trip. As the tour
will explore, this “calendar on the ground”
affected the location of Inca towns, their
ceremonies, the social interactions of their elite
groups and their highly advanced architecture.
This unique expedition will be accompanied
throughout by anthropologist, explorer and
Emmy award-winning filmmaker Peter Getzels,
and further benefit from the expertise of
Jean-Jacques Decoster, professor of
anthropology at the Universidad Nacional San
Antonio Abad in Cusco. Learn how the Incas
developed a complex society and used their
extensive grasp of science and technology to
expand rapidly, and marvel at their mastery of
stone-cutting, astronomy and mathematics to

create buildings for living and worshipping in

and systems of irrigation and aqueducts to

precisely control water for high-altitude farming

on steep slopes.

Imbibe the legacy of a civilisation and you

enjoy stunning landscapes from the fertile

verdant valley floor and wetlands through cloud

forests and onto the imposing mountains that

overlook the Sacred Valley.

Highlights

• Machu Picchu UNESCO World Heritage Site


• Multiple archaeologically important Inca sites
  and museums


• Two days’ assisted trekking to beautiful and
  remotely located Inca sites.


• Expert accompaniment throughout by
  anthropologist and filmmaker Peter Getzels


• Guest lectures and walking seminars from
  Jean-Jacques Decoster and local guides


• The Inca capital city of Cusco, also a UNESCO
  World Heritage Site


• Inca cosmology and stargazing evening


• Local culture and culinary experiences

Discovery

Tours

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In partnership with Intrepid Travel

ABTA No.

Not just a standard archaeology tour

10 days | 17 September 2022

For more information visit newscientist.com/tours

or email [email protected]