Monuments of the Incas

(Hardback, Revised and expanded edition)

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Description

Monuments of the Incas is the most comprehensive photographic and narrative survey of the major sites of the Inca empire, including the famed city of Machu Picchu, the Inca town and sun temple of Ollantaytambo, the mighty temple-fortress of Sacsahuaman, and the steeply terraced ruins of Pisac. This classic book, first published in 1982 and long out of print, has now been thoroughly rewritten to incorporate results from the latest archaeological excavations, discoveries about Inca masonry techniques, and updated interpretations of form and function. Completely redesigned throughout, it includes new chapters about Choquequirao, Chinchero,Vitcos, and the ruins along the famous Inca Trail. John Hemming makes brilliant use of archaeological and documentary evidence to write a compelling account of each site and to offer insights into the enigmatic ruins. Edward Ranney's photographs convey superbly the Inca masons' extraordinary accomplishments and the grandeur of the landscape in which they were built.

Reviews

'Detailed mythical, historical, and archaeological information on many of the most important architectural works of the Inca empire' - Latin American Antiquity
'Breathtaking a must-have for anyone interested in the Incas, and an attractive testament to the allure of the romance of lost civilizations' - Good Book Guide
'Hemming makes good use of the indispensable work of contemporary Peruvian scholarship The photographs are so beautiful that they satisfy entirely' - Scientific American
'The ultimate encyclopaedia for South America trekkers and armchair Inca enthusiasts' - Wanderlust

Author Bio

John Hemming was Director of the Royal Geographical Society for over twenty years. He has travelled extensively in the Amazon region, where he experienced many of the same thrills and hardships as the naturalists featured in this book. He was awarded Peru's highest civil decoration, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit. Edward Ranney has received numerous awards, including two Fulbright fellowships for his work in Peru, a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Arts Photography Fellowship.