Hiram Bingham

Hiram Bingham was an American academic, explorer, and politician, best known for bringing global attention to the Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru in 1911. As a Yale professor, he led an expedition that uncovered the ruins, which had been largely forgotten by the outside world. Bingham's work sparked interest in Incan history and archaeology, although it also raised debates about cultural heritage and the treatment of artifacts, as many items he collected were taken to Yale. His explorations significantly influenced our understanding of Inca civilization and contributed to the popularity of archaeological study.