this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2026
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Archaeology

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Archaeology or archeology[a] is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscapes.

Archaeology has various goals, which range from understanding culture history to reconstructing past lifeways to documenting and explaining changes in human societies through time.

The discipline involves surveying, excavation, and eventually analysis of data collected, to learn more about the past. In broad scope, archaeology relies on cross-disciplinary research. Read more...

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109
Archaeologists Discovered an Underground Inca Labyrinth, Confirming a Centuries-Old Rumor (www.popularmechanics.com)
submitted 5 days ago by cm0002@ttrpg.network to c/archaeology@mander.xyz
3 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The Incan Temple of the Sun in Cusco has long been a visual and cultural jewel of the ancient empire. But there’s even more to admire below ground. Recently, archaeologists confirmed a long-held rumor: the existence of a labyrinth of underground tunnels extending out from the temple, sometimes over a mile in length.

First hinted at in historical texts that date as far back as the 16th century, researchers have wondered if this labyrinth—known as a chincana—was real. Turns out, it is.

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[–] antonim@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

An anonymous Spanish Jesuit individual wrote about a tunnel in 1594 that connected the bishop’s housing to the Cusco Cathedral, alluding to the fact the tunnel originated at the Temple of the Sun.

This seems to be the only info that might suggest what was the use of the tunnels, perhaps it was like a special level of transport for upper classes (priests and aristocracy)?

[–] TherapyGary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 days ago

Like the tunnels under Disney World lol

[–] JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social 5 points 3 days ago

So Tintin was on to something, maybe.