Machu Picchu (02:21)

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The Incas believed the mountains in the Sacred Valley of Peru were gods. Albert Lin reflects on Inca engineering; he seeks to discover the origins of the city.

Rayallaqta, Peru (06:34)

A Quechua woman warns Lin and archaeologist Thomas Hardy about exploring the site on the Machuyuq Pata hillside. The men discover a wall that may predate the Inca and a gravesite that predates Machu Picchu; they use a drone to locate areas of interest.

Machuyuq Pata (06:17)

LiDAR scans of the hillside reveal terraces and structures. Lin and Hardy bushwhack up the hill and locate pre-Inca and Inca chullpas.

Ollantaytambo, Peru (04:32)

Lin investigates the origins of the Inca's religious belief system; a document identifies the cult of the Viracocha. Lin and archaeologist Amelia Perez Trujillo follow a lava flow up the Quimsachata volcano. LiDAR scans reveals a pre-Inca sacred site.

Raqchi Temple (03:03)

Pre-Inca pilgrims stayed in homes at the base of the Quimsachata volcano. Lin and Trujillo examine the Inca Temple of Viracocha built atop a pre-Inca ceremonial site. The Inca incorporate aspects of earlier belief systems.

Pachar Ravine (06:12)

Lin, Hardy, and Adan Choqque Arce ascend a mountain to examine Inca buildings constructed atop a pre-Inca settlement at Wat'a. Acre discusses the Inca belief that the mountains were their ancestors.

Wat'a, Peru (05:59)

Lin and his team survey the mountain with drone-based LiDAR. Scans reveal Inca terracing and pre-Inca circular structures.

Wat'a Ground Truthing (07:10)

Lin, Hardy, and Arce locate circular structures and discover pre-Inca pottery and a cooking pit that suggests a pre-Inca home. They identify square Inca structures built in a plaza. Lin reflects on belief systems and architecture. (Credits)