Ancient sun cult in Peru

By Heraclitus

Here's an interesting story at the BBC, itself a summary of an article in Science, about a series of 2,300 year old towers in Peru. Although their existence has been known for about a century, archaeologists have apparently just realized or noticed that the towers line up with the sun's arc.

The Thirteen Towers of Chankillo run from north to south along the ridge of a low hill within the site; they are relatively well-preserved and each has a pair of inset staircases leading to the summit.

The rectangular structures, between 75 and 125 square metres (807-1,345 sq ft) in size, and are regularly spaced -- forming a "toothed" horizon with narrow gaps at regular intervals.

About 230m (750ft) to the east and west are what scientists believe to be two observation points. From these vantages, the 300m- (1,000ft-) long spread of the towers along the horizon corresponds very closely to the rising and setting positions of the Sun over the year...

The site where the towers are based is about four square kilometres (1.5 square miles) in size, and is believed to be a ceremonial centre that was occupied in the 4th Century BC. It is based at the coast of Peru in the Casma-Sechin River Basin and contains many buildings and plazas, as well as a fortified temple that has attracted much attention.

The authors of the paper... believe the population was an ancient Sun cult and the observatory was used to mark special days in their solar calendar...

Written records suggest the Incas were making solar observations by 1500 AD, and that their religion centred on Sun worship.