The Intihuatana at Machu Picchu is a granite monolith on the upper terrace of the agricultural sector, not at the site's summit. Its upper surface is commonly described as tilted about 13 degrees, matching the site's roughly 13° south latitude; at equinox noon, the Sun is about 77° above the horizon and the aligned stone casts almost no shadow. The stone is widely interpreted as an Inca sundial or astronomical calendar and also had a ritual role. The video argues that this precision reflects knowledge predating Machu Picchu's roughly 80-year Inca occupation, but the archaeological evidence does not establish that older date.
Intihuatana stone linked to solar observation and ritual at Machu Picchu
PeruArchaeoastronomy
Site mentioned
Key facts
- The Machu Picchu Intihuatana is a monolith carved from granite on the upper terrace of the site's agricultural sector, not at Machu Picchu's highest point.
- Its upper surface is commonly described as tilted about 13 degrees, corresponding to the site's roughly 13° south latitude.
- At solar noon around the equinoxes, the Sun is about 77° above the horizon and the aligned stone casts little or almost no shadow.
- Its use as an Inca sundial or astronomical calendar is a common interpretation, while its ritual significance is also well established.
- The video argues that this precision reflects astronomical knowledge predating Machu Picchu's roughly 80-year Inca occupation; the archaeological evidence does not establish that older date.
Sources
adeptexpeditions.com
Linked in video description
The Intihuatana Stone in Machu Picchu Explainedsalkantaytrekking.com
It's a four-sided stone and each point represents the north, south, east, and west. It does look like a sundial, which was one of its main ...
Intihuatana stone Machu Picchukenkoadventures.com
The Intihuatana is a stone found in the citadel of Machu Picchu, Peru. It is believed to have been used by the Incas as a sundial and astronomical calendar.
The Intihuatana Stone in Machu Picchumachutravelperu.com
The Intihuatana monolith of Machu Picchu is an ancient sundial that marked the time and allowed the connection of the Incas with the Sun ...
Intihuatanaen.wikipedia.org
Intihuatana is a ritual stone in South America associated with the astronomic clock or calendar of the Inca. Its name is derived from the local Quechua ...
The Intihuatana Stone at Machu Picchu | Peru travel guidesalkantaytrekking.com
The Intihuatana at Machu Picchu is a masterpiece carved from granite. It stands between 1 and 2 meters tall on a multi-level base. At the top, a ...
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