Framing a Lost City

Visualization, particularly through photography, played a decisive role in transforming Machu Picchu from an obscured ruin into a globally recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amy Cox Hall's analysis of Hiram Bingham's three expeditions to Peru (1911, 1912, 1914–1915) demonstrates that photography shaped the site's perception as both a scientific discovery and a symbol of Peruvian heritage. While Bingham's work relied on local knowledge and labor, his photographic practices stabilized the narrative of Machu Picchu as a 'lost city,' influencing its cultural significance worldwide. This study highlights how images circulated globally, taking on varied meanings—especially in Peru, where the site became a national patrimony requiring protection.

Cox Hall, A. (2017). Framing a Lost City. https://doi.org/10.7560/313671