Since prehistoric times, humans have been fascinated by the cosmos. As ancient civilizations strived to understand the mysteries of the stars, moon, Sun, and planets, they developed sophisticated systems to track and predict astronomical events. These gave rise to complex structures used for agriculture, navigation, and spiritual beliefs.
Life-Giving River of Stars
Throughout the Andes region, the Milky Way galaxy was perceived as a river that serves as a source of all water on Earth. The inhabitants were captivated by the shining arch in the night sky and called it "Mayu," which means "river of stars."
Since the South Pole faces the galactic center of the Milky Way, the southern skies provide a spectacular sight visible to the naked eye. For the Incas, the constellations are grouped into two different types: luminous and dark. Luminous constellations were made of sparkling stars that depict geometric forms seen as inanimate objects.
On the other hand, dark constellations were contained within the dark blotches of the galaxy and were considered living objects that represent animals in Incan culture. These animals are believed to drink from the waters of the celestial river and obscure the heavenly glow of Mayu.
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Ancient Structures With Astronomical Significance
Researchers Bernardino Ojeda, Andrés Ocas Quispe, and Robert A. Benfer worked to investigate the positioning of ceremonial structures in El Paraiso, Peru. The site is believed to have been built between 2,400 B.C. and 1,440 B.C., predating the Incan Empire by at least three thousand years.
Previous studies at the site revealed that the two arms of the main temple form a 34-degree angle, which aligns perfectly with the northeastern end of the Milky Way galaxy. It was assumed that the ancient builders carefully aligned El Paraiso with important events in the sky, such as winter and summer solstices.
The research team tried to uncover the accuracy with which the ancient astronomer priests calculated their designs based on the stars. In a recent study, the experts discovered two colossal structures: one resembling a "monster" and the other shaped like a condor. Both of these structures matched the alignment perfectly.
According to the researchers, their discoveries support existing beliefs regarding pre-Columbian Andean cosmology, which focuses on "dark cloud constellations." This group of people viewed the constellations as animal shapes within the dark spaces in the Milky Way.
Aside from the two significant animal-shaped structures, nine small platform mounds were also discovered encircling the central temple. When a line is drawn through each mound from the center of the site, a pattern emerges that aligns with the sunrise or sunset during the June or December solstice.
Other mounds also seem to align strategically with the major standstills of the Moon, marking the southernmost point of the lunar rise in its monthly cycle. In total, 13 distinct alignments were unveiled by the team at El Paraiso, each within one degree of different celestial events. Additionally, a fourteenth alignment was identified with a precision of 1.5 degrees.
Due to the accuracy and quantity of the celestial alignments, chance was ruled out by the researchers as an explanation. Instead, they suggested a cosmology in the Late Preceramic of solar and lunar alignments. The linkage of supernatural animals to dark cloud constellations and astronomical orientations was also proposed.
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