Lost Inca settlement

This graphic was part of a feature story in the June 2026 issue of National Geographic magazine.

For centuries, a vanished Inca fortress called Ancocagua existed only in legend. Now, scientists believe they have found the long-lost site at a mountaintop complex in the Peruvian highlands known as Taqrachullo. In a collaboration with artist Aria Safarzadegan and interactive visuals editor JoElla Carman, this print and digital graphic reconstructs the settlement as it may have appeared during the Inca era and reimagines the ceremonies held at its open-air temple, where participants sang, danced, and prayed for fertile harvests and good fortune.

Explore the online version of this story and graphic (which may be behind a paywall).