THE CASMA VALLEY OF PERU: A CRADLE OF PRE-INCA ASTRONOMY

Abstract

The earliest large-scale structuresin Peru that suggest intentionalastronomical orienta-tions are found during the Late Archaic in the Supe Valley of Norte Chico andin the Casma Valley dating to2500-3500 BCE. Major features were sunken circular plazas,stairways, pyramids,and plazassuggesting the ritual movement across a tripartite cosmos, as well as orientations to December solstice sunrise/ June solstice sunset.This architectural theme continued to be expressed into the Early Horizon (1000-200 BCE) in twelve major sites in the Casma Valley.Nine have orientations to the June solstice or December solstice sunrises. The mound of Sechín Alto, the largest in the Americas, is topped with a U-shaped structure facing June solstice sunrise. Chankillo, one of the most extensively studied sitesin the Casma Valley,has a labyrinthine U-shaped structure facing December solsticesunrise.The Casma Valley may have been a major pilgrimage route to Chavín de Huantar, which continued this tradition of the tripartite cosmos as well as adding a water cult. The role of replicatingcultural units is discussed with respect to maintaining cultural continuity withintheCasma valleyand its neighborhood.