subject: Machu Picchu Controversy Grows [print this page] The controversies over the ancient Incan site Machu Picchu has never ceased. Now, a private claim over the archeological landmark has put this ancient city back in the headlines not only in Peru, but all over the world.
The very first controversy about this sacred site came as to the claim to the discovery and explorers first setting foot on the site. It was claimed by Hiram Bingham that he discovered the temple site high in the region of Cuzco as a result of a scientific expedition. This claim though was debunked as proof of a previous Peruvian expedition reaching the sacred site before Bingham's discovery. An even earlier account of the first outsiders setting foot in the area in the late 19th century was the looting done by the German Augusto R. Berns. The Bingham claim has since been abandoned in favor of the discovery of the government and the looting by the German.
The site was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983 and has been enjoyed by many tourists from the world over. At its peak, there were nearly a million visitors to the ruins with at least 2,000 individuals at the site at any given time. The numbers though have steadily fallen as grave concerns about safety and stability of the mountain pathways leading to Machu Picchu may suddenly give way to the onslaught of visitors. Despite such lower numbers, the country is celebrating the centennial celebration of the site, called "100 years of Machu Picchu in the World." The President of Peru, Mr. Alan Garcia joined the celebrations in the region.
Many archeologists believe that the citadel was built to honor the Incan king Pachacuti. The architecture continues to baffle the scientific world because of its accuracy and the ability to carry over rocks in such terrain using only primitive tools. A further mystery is the reason for the abandonment of the temple area after only a few years of use.
Now, a new controversy has beset this historical site. A Peruvian family has made claims to own the land in and around Machu Picchu. The Abril family claims to own the estate where the ruins are located before the alleged discoveries made by the Peruvian government. The patriarch of the family, Edgar Echegaray Abril has the deed of sale dated June 14, 1910 proving payment of gold for the land of the area.
They then sold the surrounding lands around Machu Picchu to the Zavaleta family in 1944 with the express provision that the said area would be expropriated by the state. This promised expropriation though was never formally completed and the Peruvian government has not paid any compensation for the ruins and the surrounding land despite claiming that the lands were properties of the State. Thus, without expropriation, the land still belongs to the family and the state according to the family.
The family has already filed five lawsuits in Peru since 2004 claiming compensation and interest that may reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The family also, through their lawyer, Fausto Salinas, has made representations with UNESCO for assistance to settle the compensation claim of the family against the government. It is asking for UNESCO assistance to put pressure on the government to pay the Abrils compensation for the land.
