The Thirteen Towers of Chankillo: Archaeoastronomy and Social Organization at the First Solar Observatory in America

Abstract

The Thirteen Towers of Chankillo run north-south along a low ridge within a fourth century BC ceremonial complex in north coastal Perú. 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 by almost two millennia the Sun pillars of Inca Cusco.