The mythological origin place of the Incas was the source of academic controversy for some time. In the early twentieth century, Machu Picchu was thought to be the place where Manco Capac, the first Inca king, originated. However, other evidence indicates that Manco Capac came from the Andean town of Pacariqtambo. Gary Urton will discuss these different perspectives, focusing on how an ancient adobe wall at the center of Pacariqtambo links its history with Machu Picchu's, and how its study can inform our understanding of larger-scale adobe buildings, from the time of the Incas into the deep pre-Columbian past.