cusco

Archaeologists working with Peru’s Decentralized Directorate of Culture (DDC) in Cusco and the Center of Andean Studies at the University of Warsaw have recently identified more than 2.5 kilometers of previously undocumented pre-Hispanic roads near Machu Picchu, thanks to advanced laser technology that uncovered hidden features beneath the dense vegetation of Peru’s cloud forest. The discovery includes a main road at least 1.2 kilometers long and what researchers believe are architectural features such as agricultural terraces and platforms. Peru’s Ministry of Culture announced the findings following preliminary archaeological reconnaissance carried out in July 2026 around the Mandor wall, close to the celebrated Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Map showing the archaeological research area surrounding the Muralla de Mandor near Machu