Description
Vilcabamba, the sacred refuge of the Incas
Book Summary
This work recounts the fascinating human and scientific adventure that led to the discovery of Vilcabamba the Great, the last refuge of the Incas. Based on 16th-century documents, Santiago del Valle and a team of researchers managed to locate this lost enclave in 1997 after sixteen expeditions. The book combines historical research with the thrill of travel, offering the reader a detailed chronicle of one of the most important archaeological findings in contemporary Peru.
What is it about?
The book reconstructs the process that led to the identification of a key site in Inca history. Through meticulous work with colonial sources, Santiago del Valle and his colleagues followed clues left by Spanish chroniclers to find the place where the Incas resisted after the conquest. The narrative describes the sixteen expeditions carried out, the logistical and geographical challenges, and the climactic moment of the discovery in 1997. More than just an archaeological report, the work is a story of perseverance, passion for history, and the thrill of discovery in the heart of the Peruvian jungle.
Main themes
- Historical archaeology and the location of lost sites
- Inca resistance after the Spanish conquest
- Scientific expeditions in the Peruvian jungle
- Interpretation of 16th-century documents
- The myth and reality of Vilcabamba as a sacred city
Who is it recommended for?
This book is intended for readers interested in the history of the Inca Empire, American archaeology, and great expeditions of discovery. It will also appeal to those who enjoy travel chronicles with a scientific basis, as well as enthusiasts of Peru's colonial history and narratives about the search for lost cities.
What this book offers
- A detailed and documented chronicle of the discovery of a key historical enclave
- A combination of historical rigor with the excitement of an expeditionary adventure
- A profound vision of Inca resistance and their final refuge
- The testimony of sixteen expeditions that culminated in a significant archaeological finding
Technical specifications
- Author: del Valle, Santiago
- Publisher: Ediciones del Viento, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY, TRAVEL LITERATURE
- Collection: VIENTO CEFIRO
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: April 2016
- Number of pages: 592
- Weight: 1066 g
Editorial review
This is a reference work for those wishing to understand in depth the real process that led to the identification of Vilcabamba the Great. Santiago del Valle combines the rigor of a historian with the passion of an explorer, offering an account that satisfies both the specialist and the curious reader. The volume, extensive and well-documented, becomes a valuable tool for understanding a crucial chapter of Inca history and Peruvian archaeology.