Full Description
Astronomy in the Inca Empire was a robust and fundamental practice. The subsequent Spanish conquest of the Andes region disrupted much of this indigenous culture and resulted in a significant loss of information about its rich history. Through modern archaeoastronomy, this book helps recover and interpret some of these elements of Inca civilization.
Astronomy was intricately woven into the very fabric of Andean existence and daily life. Accordingly, the text takes a holistic approach to its research, considering first and foremost the cultural context of each astronomy-related site. The chapters necessarily start with a history of the Incas from the beginning of their empire through the completion of the conquest by Spain before diving into an astronomical and cultural analysis of many of the huacas found in the heart of the Inca Empire.
Over 300 color images—original artwork and many photos captured during the author's extensive field research in Machu Picchu, the SacredValley, Cusco, and elsewhere—are included throughout the book, adding visual insight to a rigorous examination of Inca astronomical sites and history.
Contents
1 Introduction ....................................................... 2 Evolution of an Empire .......................................... 2.1 Before the Incas ............................................. 2.2 The Early Incas .............................................. 2.3 Rulers of Imperial Expansion .............................. 2.4 Spanish Conquest ............................................ 2.5 Inca Resistance ............................................... 2.6 The Catholic Purge .......................................... 2.7 Summary.......................................................
3 Cultural Context .................................................. 3.1 Religion ...................................................... 3.2 Cosmology ................................................... 3.3 Sacred Landscape ........................................... 3.4 Camay ......................................................... 3.5 Intihuatanas ................................................... 3.6 Sacred Animals .............................................. 3.7 Ancestors ..................................................... 3.8 Social Issues ................................................. 3.9 Organization ................................................. 3.10 Succession ................................................... 3.11 Festivals ...................................................... 3.12 Climate ....................................................... 3.13 Agriculture ................................................... 3.14 Irrigation ..................................................... 3.15 Imperial Expansion ......................................... 3.16 Pilgrimage ................................................... 3.17 Building an Empire ......................................... 3.18 Architecture .................................................. 3.19 Inca Roads ................................................... 3.20 Carved Rocks ................................................ 3.21 Summary .....................................................
4 Ceques and Huacas ................................................ 4.1 History ......................................................... 4.2 Ceques ......................................................... 4.3 Huacas ......................................................... 4.4 Huaca Maintenance and Worship .......................... 4.5 Ceque and Huaca Astronomy .............................. 4.6 Ceque System Controversy ................................. 4.7 Summary ......................................................
5 Archaeoastronomy ................................................ 5.1 The Celestial Sphere ........................................ 5.2 Motions of the Heavens .................................... 5.3 Solstices and Equinoxes .................................... 5.4 Cardinal Directions .......................................... 5.5 Zenith and Anti-Zenith Sun ................................. 5.6 Horizon Astronomy .......................................... 5.7 Field Research ................................................ 5.8 Summary ......................................................
6 Inca Astronomy and Cosmology ............................... 6.1 A Complex Astronomy ....................................... 6.2 Sun Worship ................................................... 6.3 Cosmology and Origins ...................................... 6.4 Principal Festivals and Ceremonies ........................ 6.5 Inca Horizon Astronomy ..................................... 6.6 Architectural Alignments .................................... 6.7 Ushnus, Sucancas, Pillars, and Gnomons .................. 6.8 Inca Calendar .................................................. 6.9 The Moon ...................................................... 6.10 The Milky Way ................................................ 6.11 Stars ............................................................ 6.12 Ceque System and the Stars ................................. 6.13 Cosmology and Atmospheric Phenomena ................. 6.14 Summary ......................................................
7 Orientations at or near Cusco, Tipon, and Saihute .......... 7.1 Kenko Grande ................................................... 7.2 Kenko Chico .................................................... 7.3 Mesa Redonda .................................................. 7.4 Tetecaca ......................................................... 7.5 Patallacta ......................................................... 7.6 Kusilluchayoc ................................................... 7.7 Lacco ............................................................. 7.8 Huaca 44 ........................................................ 7.9 Lanlakuyok ..................................................... 7.10 Puca Pucara .................................................... 7.11 Tambomachay ................................................. 7.12 Sacsahuaman ................................................... 7.13 Mollaguanca ................................................... 7.14 Sapantiana ...................................................... 7.15 Rumiwasi Bajo ................................................. 7.16 Rumiwasi Alto ................................................. 7.17 Kusicallanca .................................................... 7.18 Tipon ............................................................ 7.19 Saihuite .......................................................... 7.20 Summary ........................................................
8 Orientations in the Sacred Valley ................................. 8.1 Chinchero ....................................................... 8.2 Pisac ............................................................... 8.3 Q'espiwanka ..................................................... 8.4 Cerro Pumahuachana .......................................... 8.5 Cerro Unoraqui ................................................. 8.6 Maras ............................................................ 8.7 Moray ............................................................ 8.8 Choquequilla ................................................... 8.9 Ollantaytambo .................................................. 8.10 Summary ........................................................
9 Orientations at and near Machu Picchu ........................ 9.1 History and Design ............................................ 9.2 Machu Picchu ................................................. 9.3 River Intihuatana ............................................... 9.4 Llactapata ...................................................... 9.5 Summary .......................................................
10 Discussion, Findings, and Conclusion .......................... 10.1 Discussion ...................................................... 10.2 Findings ......................................................... 10.3 Concluding Remarks ...........................................
Appendices ................................................................ A.1 Glossary ......................................................... A.2 Azimuths and Inclinations .................................... A.3 GPS Field Data ................................................. A.4 Magnetic Declination .......................................... A.5 Solar Horizon Positions ....................................... A.6 Sperical Trigonometry Formulae .............................
Bibliography ...............................................................
Index .........................................................................
