Archaeoastronomical Fieldwork in Peru

Details Archaeoastronomical Fieldwork in Peru Archaeoastronomical Fieldwork in Peru

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006aas...208.7502z&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #208, #75.02

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

During June-July 2005, sets of 14 horizon photographs were obtained at 10 major monumental sites of the Inca as identified in Hemming and Ranney (1982) . The photographs were combined to yield complete 360o panoramas at each of the sites. To calibrate the panoramas a Wild T-2 theodolite was used to obtain 5 pairs of altitude/azimuth measurements of the Sun at each site. The standard deviation of multiple determinations of true north was typically 0.25'to 0.5'. As a check on the sun sights, a line-of-sight azimuth was also established with GPS measurements at each site. Agreement between these baselines and the sun sights are satisfactory. We find evidence of June solstice and/or Pleiades orientations at Llactapata, Sayhuite, and Ollantaytambo; cardinal orientation at Vilcashuman; June solstice established by horizon towers above Urubamba; and both zenith and anti-zenith solar alignments at the tower of Muyuc Marca of Sacsayhuman. Terracing, walls, and water features at Ollantaytambo suggest interest in both June and December solstices. The statistical significance of these orientations is evaluated. A permit was issued by the office of the Institute Cultura National in Cusco for field work at all of these sites. This work was undertook as partial fulfillment of the requirement for a MA degree in Earth Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado.
Funding was provided by Sigma Xi and The University of Northern Colorado.
Hemming, J. and E. Ranney. 1982. Monuments of the Inca, Boston: Little, Brown

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