Archaeologists have mapped more than 2.5 kilometers of previously unknown Inca roadways near Machu Picchu in Peru, long hidden beneath dense tropical forest.

A Polish-Peruvian research team used drone-based LiDAR scanning to map the ground beneath the vegetation during fieldwork in late July and early August 2026. The roads lead toward platforms and terraces near the Mandor Wall, on the opposite side of the Urubamba Valley from the main Machu Picchu complex.

More than 60 archaeological sites have already been documented in the national park, most connected by roads on the left bank of the Urubamba River. The newly found roads show significant Inca construction also happened on the opposite side of the valley.

The team includes researchers from the University of Warsaw, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology and Peruvian institutions. Exact locations have not been revealed because of looting concerns. "There will definitely be at least twice as many," said Prof. Mariusz Ziolkowski. A field campaign in the 2027 season will complete the surveys before partial excavations begin.

Reporting based on: thedebrief.org, archaeologymag.com.