Peru has oldest observatory of the Americas in Chankillo

Archeological /historical news week 41 2009

Observatory of Chankillo oldest in the Americas
A recent study of Peruvian archeologist Iván Ghezzi says that the ancient site Chankillo with thirteen towers in the middle of the desert south of Casma in the district of Ancash is an observatory. The towers have an exact relation with the movements of the sun. They were constructed 2.300 years ago by a culture possibly part of that of Chavín and Cupisnique. This means that this observatory is older than the Mayan one of Uaxactún in the north of Guatemala, which dates from the 3rd century AD. (Somos 3 October 2009)

Museum by locals in Pisac
Francisco Rojas president of the new museum of Pisac has involved the 12 communities or ayllus of the district of Pisac near Cusco in the construction of the museum. The museum is financed by a US fund and the advisers are Mexican anthropologists. The locals chose the contents for display in the museum, based on what is important in their lives, from everyday use to the sacred. (El Comercio 2 October 2009)

Tomb of child priestess found in Cahuachi, Nasca 300-450 AD
Italian architect Giuseppe Orefici discovered the tomb of a priestess in the Nasca city of Cahuachi. The tomb in rooms located between two pyramids dates from the Early Nasca period, 300-450 AD. In the adobe tomb the mummified body of a girl of 12-14 years old was found. Based on the findings of gold and silver jewellery and precious stones she must have belonged to the priest elite of the place. There were no signs of the child being sacrificed, so she probably died from natural causes.
Giuseppe Orefici has been working since 1982 in Nasca. He pays personally for the guardian to protect the site. (El Comercio 3 October 2009)

Pre-Hispanic remains found in Cusco
In an urban zone in the north eastern part of the city of Cusco archeologists have discovered 12 burials and dwellings. The persons that were found probably worked as servants for the local elite. The dwellings date from the Inca period. (Peru.21 8 October 2009)

Huaca San Pedro in Chimbote will be restored
The huaca San Pedro in Chimbote which dates from the Moche period (100-600 AD) in Chimbote will be restored. An investment of 1,6 million soles (0,6 million US dollars). Local archeologists believe that the huaca contains many ceramics and other artifacts and possibly mausoleums of the local elite. In the past a sports field was constructed on the top of the huaca. (El Comercio 10 October 2009)