Machu Picchu in the context of the expansion of the Inca State: Between historical and radiocarbon chronologies

This text presents the recent progress of studies on the phases of expansion of the Inca state, comparing the radiocarbon dates with the data resulting from the so-called "historical chronology" elaborated in 1945 by John H. Rowe. These analyses are based on available new calibration curves, as well as on the new delineation of the convergence zone boundary (ITCZ), published in 2021. The results confirm the hypotheses of different authors, that the Inca expansion in south and south-east direction occurred several decades before the date of 1471 AD resulting from the historical chronology. On the other hand, the same studies do not invalidate this traditional chronology of the Inca occupation of the territory of present-day Ecuador. In this general context, the beginning of the construction of the Llaqta of Machu Picchu also seems to date back to the first half of the fifteenth century. However, the construction of the Llaqta was apparently preceded by that of the nearby site of Choquesuysuy, coeval with the first phase of construction of the temple of Yurac Rumi in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba. These interpretations of the results have the character of working hypotheses that will have to be confirmed by a more numerous series of radiocarbon dates.