More ancient Greek sundials

Abstract

31 sites in the Cuzco region of the following horizon event(s): calculated azimuth to solar rising/setting event (i.e. solstice or equinox), measured azimuth, magnetic declination, corrected azimuth, and measured inclination. To put his astronomical data in historical and cultural contexts, Gullberg begins with an overview of Inca history (Chapter 2), followed by a broad and fairly general discussion of some of the major elements of Inca culture (Chapter 3). Chapter 4 is an introduction to the system for the organization of social, political, and ritual life in the Inca capital, known as the “ceque system.” This is followed, in Chapter 5, by a sort of “user’s guide” to archaeoastronomical field techniques and a brief overview of past archaeoastronomical studies in the Cuzco region. Chapter 6 is a summary/overview of Inca astronomy and cosmology, including discussions of Inca solar worship, festivals, the calendar, and what is known about Inca interest in and knowledge of the Moon, Milky Way, and their constellations. These introductory chapters are followed by Gullberg and his team’s measurements and findings at sites near to Cuzco (Chapter 7), within the so-called “sacred valley” to the east of Cuzco (Chapter 8), and orientations of sites and structures in and around Machu Picchu (Chapter 9). The book ends with a discussion of his findings and conclusions (Chapter 10). The book is astonishingly well illustrated, with a total of 312 figures (an average of almost one figure/page!). The illustrations include both black-and-white and color photographs of archaeological sites and other items of cultural interest, as well as many original pencil drawings and watercolor paintings of sites and cultural miscellanea by the author’s spouse, Jessica Gullberg. In sum, this is a highly informed and informative book. It raises the standard of the study of Inca astronomy and archaeoastronomy to a whole new level.