The River and the Sky: Astronomy and Topography in Caral Society, America's First Urban Centers

Research at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Caral-Supe reveals that America's earliest urban centers were strategically oriented not only by the Supe River but also by significant astronomical events, particularly the southernmost moonrise and the June solstice sunrise. These orientations likely aligned with seasonal rains, river flooding, and agricultural cycles, suggesting a sophisticated understanding of celestial phenomena to inform societal practices. The study combines topographical analysis with astronomical modeling to demonstrate an unprecedented integration of landscape and skyscape in pre-Columbian cultures, marking one of the first instances of such interaction in the Americas.

González-García, A. C., Crispín, A., Solís, R. S., Ricra, J., Criado-Boado, F., & Belmonte, J. A. (2021). The River and the Sky: Astronomy and Topography in Caral Society, America’s First Urban Centers. Latin American Antiquity, 32(1), 154–172. https://doi.org/10.1017/laq.2020.88