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Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

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Ingapirca, Ecuador.

Ingapirca: Proof that the Inca Respected the Cultures of those they Conquered

Located at an altitude of over 3,000 meters in the picturesque Andes Mountains of Ecuador sits Ingapirca, the largest and best preserved archaeological site in Ecuador. Affectionately known as “The...
The Funeral of Atahualpa by Luis Montero

The Search for the Tomb and Treasure of the Last Inca Emperor

Legend has it that a gold-filled treasure room and the mummy of the last Incan emperor awaits those who can locate the final resting place of Atahualpa. But none so far have been able to discover the...
The Temple of the Sun, in front of which almost 100 bodies, including many infants, were excavated from an unlooted tomb.

Ring of Babies: The disturbing scene found in 1,000-year-old tomb in Peru

A disturbing scene unfolded as archaeologists in Peru excavated a 1,000-year-old tomb at the pre-Inca Pachacamac site several years ago: a ring of babies that had been buried with their heads facing...
The ruins of the Pucará de Rumicucho, San Antonio de Pichincha, Ecuador

Pucara de Rumicucho Is More than just an Incan Stone Fortress

The ruins of the Pucará de Rumicucho are well-preserved walls of an Pre-hispanic, Incan fortress. They are located a one hour drive north of Quito, Ecuador. The fortress was built in the end of the...
A red lake. Representational image only.

Lake of Blood: The dark history of Laguna Yahuarcocha, Ecuador

Laguna Yahuarcocha, meaning blood lake in the Kichwa language, is a sacred lake of Ecuador. Looking across the still water in the picturesque region of Ibarra, it is hard to imagine that it was once...
4,000-Year-Old Mochica Temple and Tombs Unearthed in Peru

4,000-Year-Old Mochica Temple and Tombs Unearthed in Peru

A 4,000-year-old temple and tombs of 14 ancient Peruvians have been excavated at an ongoing archaeological dig in the Lambayeque area. The temple belongs to the mysterious Moche civilization, while...
Relief depicting beheading on one of the panels of the South Ball Court at Tajin, Veracruz, Mexico

Decapitation discovery reveals gruesome practices of the ancient Incas

In the Andes region, in Bolivia, on the shores of Lake Titicaca archaeologists have recently made a distinctly gruesome discovery at a site known as Wata Wata , in the form of three decapitated heads...
Excavations dating to 2006 in Ecuador have unearthed the ruins of a large pool, called the Water Temple. Water was collected from miles away and brought to the site in a show of engineering skill.

The Inca-Caranqui Water Temple of Ecuador: A display of wealth and skillful hydraulic engineering

Water, essence of life and natural force sacred to the ancient Inca, was harnessed and controlled in a large man-made water temple in the late 15 th century. The pool, featuring finely carved and...
Ancient water spouts at Tipón, Peru

Tipón, Peru and The Hydro Engineering Marvel of the Inca

Tipón is one of the most captivating archaeological sites in Peru and reflects the awe-inspiring accomplishments of the Inca Empire. While traces of occupation at Tipón date back thousands of years,...
Cerro Rico de Potosí as depicted in 1715, a possible origin of the Sierra de la Plata myth.

Sierra de la Plata: The Inca Legend of the Silver Mountain

It was gold and silver that drove the Spanish on in their exploration and conquest of the Americas. By the 1530s, less than 50 years after Christopher Columbus had reached the New World, the Spanish...
Ceremonial Site in Peru

Hundreds of Ancient Mummies Discovered at Ceremonial Site in Peru

Archaeologists in Peru made a monumental discovery when they found dozens of tombs with up to 40 mummies in each at a 1,200-year-old ceremonial site in Cotahuasi Valley. So far 171 mummies have been...
The Funeral of Atahualpa by Luis Montero

The Dramatic Life and Death of Atahualpa, the Last Emperor of the Inca Empire

The Inca ruler, Atahualpa, is one of the key figures in the history of the European colonialization of South America. As the last emperor of the largest empire in pre-Columbian Empire, Atahualpa was...
A masked woman leads a procession as part of the ceremony of Pawkar Raymi.

Andean Village comes alive with Pawkar Raymi, Equinox Celebration to honor Mother Earth

On March 21, residents of three indigenous communities in Saraguro, a remote Andean municipality in Ecuador, celebrated the Pawkar Raymi (ceremony of blossoming) to honor the Pachamama (Mother Earth...
Spectacular Peruvian Rope Bridge

Spectacular Peruvian Rope Bridge, last of its kind, carries forward tradition of the Inca

Every year, rural communities in Peru carry out an ancient tradition that stems back to the age of the Incan Civilization. Considered a sacred expression of ritual, history and renewal, Peruvians...
The famous abandoned city of Machu Picchu. Incan architecture, c. 1450 A.D.

Conquistadors caused Toxic Air Pollution 500 years ago by changing Incan Mining

Scientists studying ice core samples from Peru have discovered a variety of trace elements, indicating that Spanish colonial mining caused toxic air pollution over South America approximately 240...
Lithograph of Pervuian elongated skulls by J. Basire, 1842, and a Peruvian landscape. (Public Domain/Deriv)

Peruvian child mummy with elongated skull undergoes analysis

Scientists know little about a pre-Columbian child mummy of Peru on display in Ohio, but that may soon change as the body of the toddler has just undergone CT scans at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital...
Ancient ritual sacrifice of children and llamas unearthed in PeruAncient ritual sacrifice of children and llamas unearthed in Peru

Ancient ritual sacrifice of children and llamas unearthed in Peru

Archaeologists in Peru have announced the rare discovery of a ritual sacrifice of children and young llamas dating back 600 years. The finding is believed to be linked with the Chimú culture, which...
Thirteen-angle stone discovered in ancient Inca wall

Thirteen-angle stone discovered in ancient Inca wall reveals incredible skill of masons

Archaeologists in Peru have unearthed an ancient Inca wall during excavations at the Incahuasi archaeological site in the Huancavelica Region of Peru, which includes a precisely carved stone with...
Reconstruction of Inca ceremonial site uncovered in Peru

Important Inca ceremonial site uncovered in Peru

The Ministry of Culture in Peru has announced an important discovery in the Inca administrative centre of Hatun Xuaxa, which relates to the study of the so-called ‘well of liquid offerings’ into...
Machu Picchu - Astronomical knowledge of Incas

New discoveries confirm astronomical knowledge of Incas at Machu Picchu

A Polish-Peruvian archaeological team has confirmed what has been suspected for many centuries – the Incas used the ancient city of Machu Picchu as a mountaintop observatory. Although astronomical...
Qhapaq Nan - Inca Trail

Qhapaq Nan, the Grand Route of the Incas, wins World Heritage Status

An ancient Inca trail spanning six countries has just been awarded World Heritage Status, UNESCO announced on Saturday. Qhapaq Nan, as the trail is known, is a huge network of roads once used by the...
Qhapaq Nan - Incas

Qhapaq Nan, the Grand Route of the Incas, expected to get World Heritage Status

An ancient Inca trail is among the list of sites expected to get World Heritage status at a two-week UNESCO meeting currently being held in Doha. The listing of the Qhapaq Nan – a huge network of...

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