Favorite recent and insightful quote I have read recently:

Favorite quote I have recently read: "The word temple comes from the Latin templum, which signifies an extended open space that has been marked out for the observation of the sky. In what manner is such a space marked out? According to Dr. Hugh Nibley, the word templum, "designates a building specifically designed for interpreting signs in the heavens--a sort of observatory where one gets one's bearings on the universe." The root "tem-" in Greek and Latin denotes a "cutting" or intersection of two lines at right angles, the point where the "cardo" and "decumanus" cross, hence where the four regions come together." Matthew Brown - "The Gate of Heaven"

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Oldest Solar Observatory in the Americas...

We are trying to work out a weekend adventure to get to Chanquillo, also spelled Chankillo. It is north of us on the Peruvian coastal desert plain and is on the way to Chimbote. A few years ago a Yale University archaeologist  from Peru began seriously investigating the site, not for its astronomical significance, but for a very well constructed fortress. For decades, even centuries, no one understood what the 13 stone towers across the top of a prominent hill meant or were used for by the ancients. The scientist who solved the puzzle of the 13 towers is Ivan Ghezzi. Many of his papers are available in PDF format on web.
The 13 stone towers of  Chanquillo
Photos courtesy of Ivan Ghezzi
Since we had visited Caral our interest in archaeoastronomy in Peru has been piqued to some degree. Archaeoastronomy has been defined as the study of beliefs and practices relating to the sky in the past, especially in prehistory, and the uses to which ancient people's knowledge of the skies was utilized.
Sunrise of the Winter Solstice in June 
Chanquillo dates to the 4th Century BC. Archaeologist, Ivan Ghezzi, noted that "research in Peru is constantly pushing back the origins of civilization in the Americas. In this case the complete solar observatory at Chanquillo is the earliest such structure identified." It predates the Mayan observatories by 500 years and the Inca by 1700 years. The peoples who constructed both the solar observatory and the nearby fortress have not been identified as of yet. They predate the Moche/Chimu and followed the Norte Chico. Unlike Caral stone weapons have been recovered from the site. The 13 stone towers gave the locals accurate dates throughout the year within a two or three day accuracy and told them the dates for the summer, winter solstices and the equinox.  That was sufficient for them to plant their crops and to know when other important ceremonial observances should take place.
The hill of the 13 stone towers with the added artist's demarcation. A similar
observatory is opposite the hill for the sunset.
A film crew from the BBC with narrator Brian Cox has visited the site and filmed the rising sun at Chanquillo. The video can be viewed with Professor Cox's narrative at this BBC site for science and the environment. 
The fortress
Chanquillo, in addition to the fortress, includes a large ceremonial center. Altogether it  covers almost a square mile. Its 13 stone towers stretching a thousand feet across the hilltop draws visitors to the site.  Maybe we can watch and video a sunset. Dr. Ghezzi concluded the fortress was likely used for ceremonial purposes, rather than for valley defenses for a number of reasons.
The 13 solar towers as seen from the fortress
Today we confirmed the names of three different tour operators and guides that might be willing to take us there. Our next post about Chanquillo will have our own photos and images from the site.
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