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This ‘site axis’, with an azimuth of 118.8°/298.8°, appears to be the basis for the
wider grid. Both the WNW–ESE and SSW–NNE orientations are consistent to
within ~1° among each local group of structures, as would be expected if the construction followed a broad overall plan but used local foresights to achieve consistency within each specific locality. The fact that the opposite walls of large
rectangular structures are generally only parallel to within about 1°, and that their
walls are only perpendicular to within about the same amount, suggests that the
required level of precision was no greater than this. The Temple of the Pillars, whose
walls are 3.6° off the perpendicular, is an exception, implying that this occurred for
a specific reason, but it is not obvious what this reason was (astronomical or
otherwise).
The varying altitude of the horizon in either direction from different points
around the site, due to the undulating landscape crossing valleys and ridges, makes
it unlikely that a consistent type of astronomical observation could have been carried out repeatedly in order to set out the grid orientation in different areas. However,
it is possible that an astronomical observation from a particular starting place originally defined the direction of the site axis, which was then propagated across the site
by other means. The obvious candidate is the December solstice sunrise/June solstice sunset. Only the orientation of the Administrative complex and other buildings
in the eastern plazas could have been directly defined in relation to the solstices, and
in fact only in relation to the June solstice sunset. The remaining structures throughout the site broadly follow the solstitial alignment in consequence.
4.2 Sightline from Certain Limited Areas in the Plaza
to the Entrance to the Temple of the Pillars
The entrance to the Temple of the Pillars offered a fine view of much of the Chankillo
site: a key position from which high-status individuals could have presided over
ceremonials, but also where they would have stood in full view at the point of entry
to (or emergence from) the Temple itself. The archaeoastronomical evidence suggests that the entrance point was positioned so that, with appropriate timing, the
Temple officials could have been seen with the sun (or other celestial body) setting
behind them, thus providing a sort of “hierophany for the masses”.
The scatter of points marking the edge of the visibility envelope (points from
which the entrance to the Temple of the Pillars is just visible) traces out a jagged
profile formed by the sharp edges of the towers and the gaps between them moving
in relation to the Temple and its entrance. The ‘shadow’ of the towers extends somewhat further (~10–15 m) eastwards than the boundary line generated by the ground
survey. This is because the viewshed was based on the eye-height of an observer at
the entrance of the Temple of the Pillars looking down over the plaza, whereas the
ground survey was based on that of an observer on the plaza looking up at the
Temple, which is more relevant here.
The Chankillo Solar Observatory and Ceremonial Centre: A Heritage for the World
This ‘site axis’, with an azimuth of 118.8°/298.8°, appears to be the basis for the
wider grid. Both the WNW–ESE and SSW–NNE orientations are consistent to
within ~1° among each local group of structures, as would be expected if the construction followed a broad overall plan but used local foresights to achieve consistency within each specific locality. The fact that the opposite walls of large
rectangular structures are generally only parallel to within about 1°, and that their
walls are only perpendicular to within about the same amount, suggests that the
required level of precision was no greater than this. The Temple of the Pillars, whose
walls are 3.6° off the perpendicular, is an exception, implying that this occurred for
a specific reason, but it is not obvious what this reason was (astronomical or
otherwise).
The varying altitude of the horizon in either direction from different points
around the site, due to the undulating landscape crossing valleys and ridges, makes
it unlikely that a consistent type of astronomical observation could have been carried out repeatedly in order to set out the grid orientation in different areas. However,
it is possible that an astronomical observation from a particular starting place originally defined the direction of the site axis, which was then propagated across the site
by other means. The obvious candidate is the December solstice sunrise/June solstice sunset. Only the orientation of the Administrative complex and other buildings
in the eastern plazas could have been directly defined in relation to the solstices, and
in fact only in relation to the June solstice sunset. The remaining structures throughout the site broadly follow the solstitial alignment in consequence.
4.2 Sightline from Certain Limited Areas in the Plaza
to the Entrance to the Temple of the Pillars
The entrance to the Temple of the Pillars offered a fine view of much of the Chankillo
site: a key position from which high-status individuals could have presided over
ceremonials, but also where they would have stood in full view at the point of entry
to (or emergence from) the Temple itself. The archaeoastronomical evidence suggests that the entrance point was positioned so that, with appropriate timing, the
Temple officials could have been seen with the sun (or other celestial body) setting
behind them, thus providing a sort of “hierophany for the masses”.
The scatter of points marking the edge of the visibility envelope (points from
which the entrance to the Temple of the Pillars is just visible) traces out a jagged
profile formed by the sharp edges of the towers and the gaps between them moving
in relation to the Temple and its entrance. The ‘shadow’ of the towers extends somewhat further (~10–15 m) eastwards than the boundary line generated by the ground
survey. This is because the viewshed was based on the eye-height of an observer at
the entrance of the Temple of the Pillars looking down over the plaza, whereas the
ground survey was based on that of an observer on the plaza looking up at the
Temple, which is more relevant here.
The Chankillo Solar Observatory and Ceremonial Centre: A Heritage for the World