Title
Inca moon: Some evidence of lunar observations in Tahuantinsuyu
Date Issued
01 January 2015
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
book part
Author(s)
Ziółkowski M.
Kościuk J.
Parque Arqueológico Nacional de Machu Picchu
Publisher(s)
Springer New York
Abstract
So far, scientists have not investigated thoroughly if and for what purpose the Incas observed the Moon. As far as the orientation of architectural structures is concerned, the researchers focus their attention almost entirely on the position of the Sun. However, a more accurate analysis of two well-known sites - the caves of Intimachay and Cusilluchayoc - may provide evidence of their function as observatories of the lunar 18.6-year cycle. Those results may confirm the hypothesis, presented some years ago, that the Incas had elaborated a rudimentary method of predicting lunar eclipses.
Start page
897
End page
912
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Antropología Arqueología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84945362906
Resource of which it is part
Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy
ISBN of the container
978-146146141-8, 978-146146140-1
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus