Astronomy, Architecture, and Landscape in Prehispanic Mesoamerica

Šprajc, Ivan

doi:10.1007/s10814-017-9109-z

Cited by 27 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Thus, the river and the sky influenced the layout of public buildings (Adkins and Benfer 2009; Ziedler 1998). Other analogous examples could be found in Mesoamerica, where many important buildings were oriented both on astronomical grounds and with respect to prominent mountaintops on the local horizon; the orientations of most temples on the northeast coast of Yucatan peninsula, for example, conform to the adjacent shorelines but also pertain to astronomically significant groups (Šprajc 2018:218f and references therein).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

The River and the Sky: Astronomy and Topography in Caral Society, America's First Urban Centers

et al. 2021

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America's first urban centers may have been located in the Supe Valley, Peru. After investigating the location and the orientation of the main built structures, we show that it is not only the presence of the Supe River that determines their orientation but also that astronomical relationships within the orientation of the buildings dictate their setting within the valley. The southernmost position of moonrise on the horizon seems to be the most important astronomical target. There is the possibility of a trend toward attributing greater importance to the June solstice sunrise and the rising of certain stars or asterisms. These orientations could relate to specific moments throughout the year, in particular to seasonal rains, subsequent river flooding, and agricultural cycles. This is one of the earliest examples of the interaction of land- and skyscapes in human cultures and indeed the first in the Americas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

The River and the Sky: Astronomy and Topography in Caral Society, America's First Urban Centers

et al. 2021

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“…Interestingly, Urcid (2018:50) notes that the east-facing two-room temple located in the Vertíce Geodésico complex on the North Platform has two stone columns bearing glyphs associated with the sun. In Oaxaca and across Mesoamerica, astronomers closely followed the sun's movements to better coordinate vital agricultural activities (Šprajc 2018).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monte Albán's Hidden Past: Buried Buildings and Sociopolitical Transformation

et al. 2020

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In this article, we present the most significant results of the Monte Albán Geophysical Archaeology Project. Using ground-penetrating radar, gradiometry, and electrical resistance, we carried out a systematic survey of the site's Main Plaza to identify buried prehispanic features that might shed light on Monte Albán's early history. The most important discoveries include three buried structures dating between the Danibaan (500–300 BC) and Nisa phases (100 BC–AD 100). We argue that the largest structure, measuring 18 × 18 m, was probably a temple platform and that all three of the structures were razed and buried by the end of the Nisa phase at the latest. Furthermore, we contend that these events were part of a major renovation and expansion of the site's Main Plaza that occurred during a pivotal period of dramatic sociopolitical transformation in the Zapotec capital.

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“…The need for astronomical observation increased with agriculture. Astronomy also contributed to the legitimization of power of the ruling class (Šprajc 2018). Venus was linked to founders of certain Maya lineages.…”

Section: Mesoamerican Archaeoastronomymentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeoastronomy of Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan

Gullberg

Layser

2021

Astron Nachr

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In this paper, we discuss the astronomical orientations in the city plans of Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan. Mesoamerica exhibits much archaeoastronomy and these two sites are rich examples. Both exhibit alignments for solar horizon events that are integral in deliberate calendrical systems. The logic of these systems is shown, and this demonstrates that these cities were carefully planned with astronomical knowledge.

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Astronomy, Architecture, and Landscape in Prehispanic Mesoamerica

Cited by 27 publications

References 74 publications

The River and the Sky: Astronomy and Topography in Caral Society, America's First Urban Centers

The River and the Sky: Astronomy and Topography in Caral Society, America's First Urban Centers

Monte Albán's Hidden Past: Buried Buildings and Sociopolitical Transformation

Archaeoastronomy of Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan

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