Celestial Find at Ancient Andes Site

Source: Los Angeles Times | May 19, 06 | submitted by Pat Coate

Rio Chillon Valley, Peru - Archeologists working high in the Peruvian Andes have discovered the oldest known celestial observatory in the Americas a 4,200-year-old structure marking the summer and winter solstices that is as old as the stone pillars of Stonehenge.

The people who built the observatory three millenniums before the emergence of the Incas ח are a mystery, but they achieved a level of art and science that archeologists say they did not know existed in the region until at least 800 years later.

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"It's really quite a shock to everyone to see sculptures of that sophistication coming out of a building of that time period."- Richard L. Burger, Yale University archaeologist
"(This discovery) pushes the envelope of civilization farther south and inland from the coast, and adds the important dimension of astronomy to these ancient folks' way of life."- Michael Moseley, University of Florida archaeologist/Peru expert

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Message: Celestial Find at Ancient Andes Site Archeologists working high in the Peruvian Andes have discovered the oldest known celestial observatory in the Americas a 4,200-year-old structure marking the summer and winter solstices that is as old as the stone pillars of Stonehenge. The people who built the observatory three millenniums before the emergence of the Incas ח are a mystery, but they achieved a level of art and science that archeologists say they did not know existed in the region until at least 800 years later. "It's really quite a shock to everyone to see sculptures of that sophistication coming out of a building of that time period." - Richard L. Burger, Yale University archaeologist "(This discovery) pushes the envelope of civilization farther south and inland from the coast, and adds the important dimension of astronomy to these ancient folks' way of life." - Michael Moseley, University of Florida archaeologist/Peru expert Link to Article: http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/celestial_find_at_ancient_andes_site/ -------------------- The Great News Network is a daily news center that features only positive and inspirational news stories on world events, the environment, science, health, and business. http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org "An Oasis for Optimists" submit the word you see below:

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