Which civilization built Machu Picchu in Peru?

The Inca civilization built Machu Picchu in Peru.

Machu Picchu is a fifteenth-century Inca citadel located high in the Andes above the Urubamba Valley. Archaeologists generally associate its construction with the reign of the Inca ruler Pachacuti, who expanded the empire during the 1400s. The site may have served as a royal estate, ceremonial center, or retreat.

Its stonework is a major achievement. Inca builders shaped and fitted large stones without using mortar in many important structures, creating walls that have resisted frequent earthquakes in the region. Terraces helped stabilize slopes, grow crops, and manage water.

Machu Picchu was abandoned during the Spanish conquest, although the Spanish did not record discovering it. American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to wider international attention in 1911, while local people already knew of the site. It is often incorrectly attributed to the Maya or Aztec civilizations, which developed in Mesoamerica rather than the Andes.