Ancient Observatory Discovered in Peruvian Desert Predates Known Astronomical Centers

This groundbreaking discovery could completely rewrite our understanding of the oldest astronomical center in the Americas.

According to an announcement by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, the newly discovered structure predates the famous Chankillo Solar Observatory (circa 250 BCE). While radiocarbon analysis is still needed to determine its exact age, the building’s architecture—aligned with solar and particularly lunar cycles—provides compelling evidence that it served an astronomical function far earlier than previously known.

Designed According to Lunar Cycles

The most remarkable feature of this newly discovered observatory is its corridor aligned with the lunar cycle. Tracking the moon’s movements is considered significantly more complex than solar observations. The fact that this structure was designed to observe both the sun and the moon suggests that the ancient civilizations of this region possessed astronomical knowledge far more advanced than previously believed.

One of the World’s Oldest Astronomy Centers

The Ministry emphasizes that the presence of two observatories in the region now confirms that the Casma Valley was one of the world’s most important ancient astronomy centers. UNESCO has also highlighted that Chankillo represents an extraordinary system capable of determining all days of the year with 1-2 day precision using an artificial horizon.

Significance for Archaeological Research

This discovery opens new avenues for understanding how pre-Columbian societies used astronomical observations for agricultural planning, religious ceremonies, and calendar systems. The sophisticated alignment techniques employed in these structures demonstrate a level of scientific achievement that challenges previous assumptions about ancient American civilizations.