This sketch, rediscovered by Paolo Greer in 1978, was made by ‘Poker Harry’ Singer, Augusto Berns’ partner. It shows alleged mineral deposits, close to Aguas Calientes, Berns’ original sawmill camp (Image: Alex Chepstow-Lusty) An 1877 book by German geologist Herman Göhring, lost for many years, contained this map, dated 1874. It clearly indicates two peaks, “Machu Picchu” and “Huaina Picchu”… (Image: Alex Chepstow-Lusty) …while elsewhere in the book, Göhring refers to the “forts of Chuquillusca, Torontoy and Picchu” (Image: Alex Chepstow-Lusty) This 1887 booklet described Augusto Berns’ company and his proposal to loot the “Huacas del Inca” – Machu Picchu (Image: Alex Chepstow-Lusty) Advertisement This section of Berns’ handmade map shows his camp, which is marked “Saw Mill”. Next to it is the “Point Huaca Inca”, adjacent to Machu Picchu. This plan was produced before Berns got the government’s permission to sack the ruins, so their position is unmarked and described as “inaccessible” (Image: Alex Chepstow-Lusty)

The “lost city of the Incas”, Machu Picchu, was actually discovered forty years earlier than thought, and ransacked.

Machu Picchu was famously discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912.

New evidence shows that it was first visited in 1867 by an obscure German entrepreneur named Augusto Berns, who apparently looted the tombs with the Peruvian government’s blessing.

When Bingham arrived, he found a hut called “La Maquina”. This was actually part of a sawmill which Berns ran in the area, after purchasing 25 kilometres of land along the Vilcanota River in 1867. He then realised the immense potential value of Machu Picchu’s artefacts.

Berns’ activities were uncovered by Paolo Greer, who in 1978 discovered an old map of the area and subsequently traced Berns’ activities through documents in the National Library of Peru.

New Scientist has been given access to some of the documents Greer uncovered, which you can see on the right. Greer uncovered a sketch map of the area by Berns’ partner, a lost geology book with material based on Berns’ work, a booklet describing Berns’ plans to loot Machu Picchu, and his handmade map of the area.

Greer’s research will be published in South American Explorer Magazine.