Ancient astronomical observatory discovered in Peru

Excavation efforts at the archaeological site of Espiritu Pampa, in the Cusco region in Peru, resulted in the discovery of huge stone walls, an astronomical observatory, and spaces with animal teeth, silver objects, ceramic vessels, tupus, and other evidence of the Wari and Inca cultures.

Specialists of the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco (DDCC) who maintain meticulous work in Espíritu Pampa, located in the jungle of Vilcabamba district, La Convención province, confirmed the recent findings.

Illustrated here are some of the recently excavated artifacts belonging to the ancient Wari Culture, Peru. Images credit: ANDINA/Difusión

Javier Fonseca, an archaeologist who heads the multidisciplinary team, explained that the walls of a huge temple form a letter D, a characteristic feature which makes it clear that this architecture is typical of the Wari culture that originated in Ayacucho and extended all the way to Cusco.

In the center of the building, archaeologists discovered another small structure that also has the shape of the letter D, which because of its symbolic and expressive location, is considered to have served as an astronomical observatory or a place where the ancient Wari performed magical and religious rituals.

Inside the interior of the large structure archaeologists also discovered two spaces built with small stone slabs.

Images credit: ANDINA/Difusión

Fragments of animal remains were discovered inside, together with two ceramic bottles of notable Wari style, a silver pectoral and a crown or silver headdress.

One of the bottles of the ancient Wari depicts the face of a human being characterized by enormous eyes, nose, and mouth.

However, the most striking detail say researchers, is the crown that is painted on the head, which indicates that Espiritu Pampa was occupied by characters of the ruling elite during the peak of the Wari culture.

On the side of the large enclosure in the shape of the letter D, an Inca signature structure was discovered by experts, with quadrangular and rectangular design, inside which were pins (called tupus), silver needles and ceremonial ceramics.

All these artifacts belonging to pre-Hispanic cultures will be submitted to the conservation process at DDCC’s Physical Chemistry Unit for subsequent investigation.


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