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These roads were not merely for transportation; they also served a vital role in controlling access to the city. Archaeologists have uncovered numerous control posts and checkpoints along these routes, demonstrating the careful management of who could enter the sacred space of Machu Picchu. Structures such as double-jump doors and suspension bridges illustrate the sophistication of Inca security systems, allowing for the regulation of access and movements within the region. Machu Picchu was not an isolated city but a key component of a larger, interconnected empire.