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Island of the Sun: Elite and Non-Elite Observations of the June Solstice

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Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy

Abstract

In Inca times (AD 1400–1532), two small islands in Lake Titicaca had temples dedicated to the sun and the moon. Colonial documents indicate that the islands were the focus of large-scale pilgrimages. Recent archaeoastronomical work suggests that rituals, attended by both elites and commoners, were held on the Island of the Sun to observe the setting sun on the June solstice.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA

    David S. P. Dearborn

  2. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Brian S. Bauer

Authors
  1. David S. P. Dearborn
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  2. Brian S. Bauer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David S. P. Dearborn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Archaeology & Ancient History, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom

    Clive L.N. Ruggles

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Dearborn, D.S.P., Bauer, B.S. (2015). Island of the Sun: Elite and Non-Elite Observations of the June Solstice. In: Ruggles, C. (eds) Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6141-8_83

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