2007/03/02 by I Ghezzi, Clive Ruggles · 4 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies #Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
paper · doi:10.1126/science.1136415
openalex publication_date 2007/03/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The Thirteen Towers of Chankillo run north to south along a low ridge within a fourth-century B.C.E. ceremonial complex in north coastal Peru. From evident observing points within the adjacent buildings to the west and east, they formed an artificial toothed horizon that spanned-almost exactly-the annual rising and setting arcs of the Sun. The Chankillo towers thus provide evidence of early solar horizon observations and of the existence of sophisticated Sun cults, preceding the Sun pillars of Incaic Cusco by almost two millennia.