Chankillo (or
Chanquillo) is an ancient monumental complex in the
Peruvian coastal desert, found in the Casma-Sechin
Oasis in the Ancash Department of Peru. The ruins
include the hilltop Chankillo Fortress, the nearby
Thirteen Towers solar observatory, and residential
and gathering areas. The Thirteen Towers were
proposed to have been a solar observatory built in
the 4th century BC.
The site is about four square kilometres (1.5 square
miles) in size, and is believed to be a fortified
temple that was occupied in the 4th Century BC.
The Thirteen Towers solar observatory of Chankillo
course north to south along a ridge of a low hill
and are regularly spaced, forming a "toothed"
horizon with narrow gaps at regular intervals. To
the east and west investigators found two
observation points. From these vantages, the 300m
long spread of the towers along the horizon
corresponds to the rising and setting positions of
the Sun over the year.
An
extremely unusual design for a
pre-Columbian fortress - very
functional, but unusual for
Prehispanic South America. It
also demonstrates a high degree of
expertise in warfare and defensive
fortification design.
The irony of
structures like Chankillo is that it fuels the Von
Daniken (and others) follower's beliefs, since when
you look at ancient structures through modern eyes
it is all too easy to "recognize" uses or intent.
In Chankillo's case, its hilltop setting would be
recognizable to any World War defense planner as an
anti-aircraft battery, complete with dual 360°
rotation. Yet, such nonsensical notions
denigrate the brilliance of these ancient architects
in creating a fortress every bit as complex, if not
much more, as anything created in Europe at the
time.
The Thirteen Towers, views from the fortified
temple.the oldest solar observatory known in
the Americas, at Chankillo, Peru. It's dated 2,000
years before the Incas!
Simplified diagram
of how the solar observatory
would have worked.
The Oldest Observatory Of The Americas!
Chankillo
was better known in the past for a heavily fortified
hilltop structure with massive walls, restricted
gates, and parapets. For many years, there has been
a controversy as to whether this part of Chankillo
was a fort or a ceremonial center. But the purpose
of a 300meter long line of Thirteen Towers lying
along a small hill nearby had remained a mystery
until recently, which now identifies it as a solar
observatory. When viewed from two specially
constructed observing points, the thirteen towers
are strikingly visible on the horizon, resembling
large prehistoric teeth. Around the observing points
are spaces where artifacts indicate that ritual
gatherings were held.
The current report offers strong evidence for an
additional use of the site at Chankillo as a solar
observatory. It is remarkable as the earliest known
complete solar observatory in the Americas that
defines all the major aspects of the solar year.
The rise of the sun
between Tower 1 and Cerro Mucho Malo at the June
solstice, 2003, viewed from the western solar
observatory. The sunrise position at the solstice
has shifted to the right approx. 0.3Ί since the year
300 BC.
A model of how the site was believed
to have looked
Approximately 1,500 years
before the current era, the
complex of Moxeque was built
in the Casma Valley.
It's placement makes it a
part of the greater Sechin
Alto group.
It consists of a stepped pyramid constructed of
stone and adobe, with a rounded outline design, or
more than 160 meters to a side and approx. 30 meters
high, with curved corners throughout.
This possibly indicates a special relationship with
Chankillo.
This complex has wide plazas, habitation, patios,
and cemeteries. Uniquely it also has 6 large
figures made from stone and adobe, colored red,
emerald green, black and yellow.
Moxeke-Pampa de las Llamas complex covers about 220
hectares with two major platform mounds and
intervening terraced plazas on the site's 1.1 km
long centerline (Pozorski and Pozorski). The Moxeke
mound measures 170 m by 160 m by 30 m., is tiered
with rounded corners, has several terraces and a
central atrium. The final rebuilding used massive
stone blocks, including carefully shaped and
polished square ashlars. The front wall has enormous
niches with high relief sculpture. Huaca A, at the
northeast end of the plazas, measures about 135 m by
120 m by 12 m and is slightly rhomboid in shape.
This tiered platform is symmetrically covered by
chambers. Huge, low-relief clay friezes of felines
decorate the building entrance. The mound is fronted
on the centerline by a sunken plaza and a stone
platform with a circular stone court.
A note about
image quality: images of lines and
symbols taken by air or from satellite
images are adjusted to improve contrast and
visibility of the artifact (line or symbol).
The results vary from image to image.
We apologize for the quality of some of the
images, but it is due to the original source
images, and the difficulty of
photographing subject object.
to enlarge -- external link
