The Torreón of Machu Picchu: an astronomical observatory?
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Jacek Kościuk; Mariusz Ziółkowski
- Source
- Teka Komisji Architektury, Urbanistyki i Studiów Krajobrazowych. 16:7-31
- Subject
- Engineering
060102 archaeology
Observatory
business.industry
05 social sciences
050301 education
0601 history and archaeology
06 humanities and the arts
Geodesy
business
0503 education
Tower
- Language
- ISSN
- 1895-3980
The Torreón is one of the most emblematic buildings of Machu Picchu. Since 1929, different archaeoastronomical studies have been carried out on this building to verify its function as an astronomical observatory. The authors of the present text analyse in detail these hypotheses using a thorough survey of the structure created from 3D scans and digitised models. The analysis concludes that we can take as established evidence that the builders of the tower designed it according to some solar orientations, but without the purpose of erecting an astronomical observatory as was apparent in the cases of Intimachay and Inkaraqay.