Archaeologists have discovered more than 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) of previously unknown pre-Columbian roads near Machu Picchu in Peru, providing new evidence that the Incas developed both sides of the Urubamba Valley. Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is the most well-known surviving site of the Inca civilization.
A Polish-Peruvian team identified the roads during fieldwork in late July and early August 2026. Dense tropical forests had hidden the routes from view. The roads lead to platforms and terraces near the Mandor Wall, or Muralla de Mandor. The area lies across the Urubamba River from Machu Picchu, opposite the famous Inca settlement. Researchers used drone-based LiDAR scanning to study the heavily forested landscape. LiDAR sends laser pulses toward the ground to create detailed maps of the terrain. It can reveal roads, structures, and other archaeological features obscured by vegetation.
Discovery changes view of wider Machu Picchu complex
The findings could alter researchers’ understanding of how the wider Machu Picchu complex was organized. The Inca Empire became the most powerful civilization in pre-Columbian South America, developing an extensive system of settlements and infrastructure across the Andes. Archaeological work in the Cusco region has also uncovered hidden Inca construction. In 2025, researchers announced the discovery of an Inca tunnel network beneath Cusco, traced using geophysical technology.
More than sixty archaeological sites are known within Machu Picchu National Park. A road network connects the sites, which served various functions around the main settlement, known as Llaqta de Machu Picchu.
Archaeologists have uncovered more than 2.5 km of previously unknown pre-Columbian roads near Machu Picchu, hidden beneath dense tropical forest.
The discovery suggests Inca development extended farther across the Urubamba Valley than previously thought. pic.twitter.com/kwplninipR
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) August 25, 2026
Most known sites are on the left bank of the Urubamba River. That distribution suggests the Incas concentrated much of their development there. The newly identified roads provide evidence of substantial Inca activity on the other side of the valley as well. Roads likewise played an important role in other pre-Columbian societies in Peru.
In early 2026, archaeologists documented an ancient ceremonial road built by the Chimú civilization in northern Peru, offering another example of how routes shaped ancient landscapes. Professor Mariusz Ziółkowski, director of the Center for Andean Studies at the University of Warsaw, said the discovery significantly revises earlier ideas about how the complex functioned.
Researchers plan further surveys and excavations
The discovery originated out of a scientific partnership that began in 2008 between the University of Warsaw’s Center for Andean Studies, cultural authorities in Cusco, and the Machu Picchu National Archaeological Sanctuary. This year’s team included archaeologists and remote-sensing specialists from Poland and Peru. Dr Bartłomiej Ćmielewski of Wrocław University of Science and Technology supervised the drone-based LiDAR scanning.
Dr Jan Kłaput of the University of Warsaw, Dr. Paweł Dąbek of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, and Peruvian archaeologist Jeff Rocky Contreras Soto also participated. Dr. Nino del Solar Velarde of DDC Cusco supervised the fieldwork, which the University of Warsaw funded.
Researchers are discussing a framework with Peruvian cultural authorities for continued cooperation over the next several years. The team plans to complete its remote-sensing survey during the next field season before beginning field investigations, including partial excavations of the roads and associated structures. Researchers are not disclosing the roads’ precise locations. Ziółkowski said the secrecy is intended to protect the archaeological remains from damage by amateur treasure hunters.
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