What is it about?
An archaeological pyramid that in form resembles a cinder cone of a volcano was last used for a ceremony in the 16th century. An exceedingly rare cluster of total solar eclipses occured in AD 1521, 1538, 1539, and 1543, all before the median radiocarbon date of the final use, a hearth. The form of the pyramid is a mystery--there are no others of this shape known.
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Why is it important?
There is no other pyramid in the shape of a volcanic cinder cone known to archaeology. Four total eclipses of the sun occured before the final ceremony at the site. They occurred in 23 years--yet total eclipses of the sun occur by chance in any given area once every 360 years.
Perspectives
With many years of experience in archaeology in Perú, this is one of the most unique sites. I found it by chance while looking for giant animal effigy mounds, another discovery made by chance while looking for4,000 year old astronomical alignments, another discovery made by chance while excavating a site to test hypotheses associated with the origin of agriculture. Luck has led me on a merry chase.
Robert Benfer
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A prehistoric pyramid in the shape of a volcanic cinder cone, Nepeña Valley, Peru, Antiquity, June 2017, Antiquity Publications,
DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2017.49.
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