The Thirteen Towers: Peruvian Citadel is Site of Earliest Ancient Solar Observatory in the Americas

Existence of sophisticated Sun cults uncovered by researchers from University of Leicester and Yale University

Article Image and Home Page Image: courtesy of Ivan Ghezzi

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A 2,300 year old solar observatory in Peru has been identified by new research published today (March 1), in the journal Science, by archaeologists from the University of Leicester and Yale University.

The Thirteen Towers of Chankillo have been discovered to span, almost exactly, the annual rising and setting arcs of the sun when viewed from two specially constructed observation points.

The existence of this observatory predates the European conquests by 1,800 years and even precedes the monuments of similar purpose constructed by the Mayans in Central America.

Chankillo is a large ceremonial centre covering several square kilometers. It was better known in the past for a heavily fortified hilltop structure with massive walls, restricted gates, and parapets. But the purpose of a 300m-long line of Thirteen Towers lying along a small hill nearby had remained a mystery. New evidence now identifies it as a solar observatory.

And the researchers go further-pointing to evidence of an ancient Sun cult participating in public rituals and feasts directly linked to the observation and interpretation of the seasonal passage of the Sun.

to read more, go to:  http://www2.le.ac.uk/ebulletin/news/press-releases/2000-2009/2007/03/nparticle.2007-03-02.8855875843