May
14, 2006 - Celestial Find at Ancient Andes Site
(LA Times)- The discovery in Peru of a 4,200-year-old temple and observatory pushes
back estimates of the rise of an advanced culture in the Americas. / The 20-acre site, called Buena Vista, is about 25 miles inland in the Rio Chillon Valley, just north of Lima
May
10, 2006 - Discovery of oldest known art and agricultural calendar
(News Wise) - 1,000 years older than anything of its kind before.
While excavating the temple and sculptures, Benfer discovered several
astronomical alignments at the Buena Vista site that suggest Andeans
used astronomical signs and constellations to guide their agricultural
activities. The lines incorporate points at the temple entrance, at the
offering chamber, on sculptures, and on surrounding ridges that align
with the rising and setting sun on days of astronomical significance,
such as the equinox and solstices. For example, from west to east, the
offering chamber aligns with a modified rock on an eastern ridge,
forming a 114-degree azimuth and pointing toward the rising sun on
December 21, which is the southern hemisphere's summer solstice. This
date begins the season where flood waters rise, El Niño weather
patterns are predicted and plants should be planted. On March 21, when
flood waters recede, this same line points to the rising Andean
constellation of the Fox. In addition, among the ancient statues Benfer
excavated in Buena Vista is a personified disk that frowns at the
sunset on June 21, the day marking the beginning of the harvest.
April
25, 2006 - Professor shares Andean discovery (Columbia
Missourian)
May 5, 2006 - Temple of the Fox found in Peru (ArcheoAstronomy)
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