‘Detailed mythical, historical, and archaeological information on many of the most important architectural works of the Inca empire’ – Latin American Antiquity

‘Breathtaking … a must-have for anyone interested in the Incas, and an attractive testament to the allure of the romance of lost civilizations’ – The Good Book Guide

‘Hemming makes good use of the indispensable work of contemporary Peruvian scholarship … The photographs … are so beautiful that they satisfy entirely’ – Scientific American

‘The ultimate encyclopaedia for South America trekkers and armchair Inca enthusiasts’– Wanderlust

This classic book, long out of print, has now been thoroughly rewritten to incorporate results from the latest archaeological excavations and discoveries about Inca masonry. A rich contribution to the understanding of Inca archaeology and architecture, Monuments of the Incas is also an invaluable guide for visitors to Peru and a unique photographic document.

This is the most comprehensive photographic and narrative study of the major sites of the Inca empire, including the famed city of Machu Picchu, the Inca town and sun temple of Ollantaytambo, the mighty temple-fortress of Sacsahuaman, and the steeply terraced ruins of Pisac. This edition includes new chapters about Choquequirao, Chinchero, Vitcos and the ruins along the famous Inca Trail.

John Hemming makes brilliant use of archaeological and documentary evidence to write a compelling account of each site and to offer insights into the enigmatic ruins. Edward Ranney’s photographs convey superbly the Inca masons’ extraordinary accomplishments and the grandeur of the landscape in which they were built.

John Hemming has travelled extensively in South America and is an expert on the Incas and the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. He led the largest multi-disciplinary research project ever mounted in Amazon forests by a European country, and has visited almost all Inca ruins. His previous books include Tree of Rivers; a three-volume history of Brazilian Indians; and the prize-winning The Conquest of the Incas. Hemming was Director and Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society in London from 1975 to 1996 and was awarded Peru's highest civil decoration, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit.
See John Hemming's video in our Authors page

Edward Ranney first travelled to Peru in 1961. He has received numerous awards, including two Fulbright fellowships for his work in Peru, a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Arts Photography Fellowship. His work has been presented in individual exhibitions at The Princeton University Art Museum, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, The Art Institute of Chicago, The University of New Mexico Art Museum, and The Centro Cultural of Miraflores, Lima. His books include Stonework of the Maya, Prairie Passage, and Pablo Neruda’s Heights of Macchu Picchu.

Also of interest
Tree of Rivers: The Story of The Amazon by John Hemming
The Incas Ancient Peoples and Places series
The Incas and their Ancestors: The Archaeology of Peru
The Incas: Empire of Blood and Gold
Splendours of the Ancient Andes