The cosmology of Inca huacas
Gullberg, Steven Roland (2009) The cosmology of Inca huacas. PhD thesis, James Cook University.
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Abstract
The Incas honored and venerated many features of both natural and man-made landscapes that they felt to be endowed with superhuman powers. In Quechua these shrines were known as huacas, and at the time of the Spanish conquest there were thousands of them. Soon after invading the Inca homeland the Spaniards began a campaign against the indigenous religion that included a systematic eradication of huacas. Shrines that were large carved stones and outcroppings survived, however, and form a part of this study. These are examined for astronomical orientations marking such events as solstices and equinoxes.
The Inca apparently believed rock could be empowered by elaborate carving as well as through the movement of water and, as such, astronomical huacas are evaluated for nearby sources of water. Ritual stairways are also common features, symbolizing shamanic movement between the three worlds of Inca cosmology. Certain shrines appear to be organized by lines or ceques connecting adjacent huacas which may be associated with sequential rituals as well as astronomical sightlines. These and other features are recorded for each of the huacas of this study.
The Incas built multiple towers on the horizons of Cusco to mark the positions of the rising or setting sun on significant dates of the year. All were destroyed. Beyond Cusco two solar pillars overlooking the modern village of Urubamba escaped the Spanish purge. This research establishes that when viewed from a large granite boulder in the center of the palace courtyard of Huayna Capac they mark the rising sun at June solstice. Additionally, from the boulder in the direction of the December solstice sunrise are located enigmatic stone structures on the summit of Cerro Unoraqui.
Below Machu Picchu, near the Urubamba River, lies a large and complex shrine initially identified by Bingham as the Urubamba Intihuatana. The massive granite stone lies approximately between the Sacred Plaza of Machu Picchu and the Sun Temple of Llactapata along the axis of the June solstice sunrise and December solstice sunset. The River Intihuatana is explored and catalogued in detail. There also appear to be more than 30 huacas in proximity to Machu Picchu itself. This array of huacas in the neighborhood of Machu Picchu is reminiscent of the concentration of huacas associated with the ceques of Cusco.
Many facets of Inca astronomy are explored, as well as the context within which it served Incan society. This thesis analyzes 29 sites near Cusco, in the Sacred Valley, and between Machu Picchu and Llactapata for evidence of astronomical orientation and inclusion of any of 25 motifs and iconic features. The approach is a holistic one in that it considers multiples levels of meaning including cultural motifs, topographic and astronomical contexts, sightlines, as well as light and shadow effects throughout the year, especially at times of the solstice, equinox, zenith and antizenith suns. Photographic evidence of light and shadow effects was recorded and is presented with the field data in Part IV. Various solar orientations were cataloged and the results are given in Chapter 12. Data was examined for trends regarding proximity to water sources and inclusion of the aforementioned motifs and iconic features. These trends are also presented in Chapter 12.
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