Astronomical Alignments from Structures Surrounding Giant Animal Effigy Mounds at El Paraiso, Peru

We previously reported astronomical alignments with the principal temple of the archaeological site of El Paraiso in coastal Peru. Here we describe a new investigation of nine small platform mounds associated with the two giant animal effigy mounds at the site. A total station map of the site permits possible astronomical alignments to be measured directly from the AutoCAD map by Pixelstick or AutoCAD. We corrected alignments for obliquity and for the apparent curvature of the sun and moon over the crest of nearby ridges. Azimuths for astronomical events were obtained from Starry Night Pro Plus 6.4.3. We found that 13 of 14 alignments were within 1 degrees of the predicted astronomical values (and all 14 were within 1.5 degrees). To account for these findings and those of the giant animal platform effigy mounds at the site, we propose a cosmology in the Late Preceramic period of solar and lunar alignments and the linkage of supernatural animals to dark cloud constellations. The building of these mounds was directed by astronomer priests. A shared belief in a cosmology that included a punishing force may have eased transactions by engendering trust among individuals living across river valleys and at different altitudes. Anteriormente hemos reportado alineamientos astronomicos en el templo principal del sitio arqueologico de El Paraiso en la costa de Peru. Aqui describimos una nueva investigacion de nueve pequenos monticulos plataformas asociados con los dos monticulos gigantes de efigies de animales del sitio. Un mapa de estacion total permite medir posibles alineamientos astronomicos directamente desde el mapa de AutoCAD con Pixelstick o AutoCAD. Las alineaciones se corrigieron para tener en cuenta la oblicuidad y la curvatura aparente del sol y la luna sobre la cresta de las cumbres cercanas. Los acimuts de los eventos astronomicos se obtuvieron de Starry Night Pro Plus 6.4.3. Los resultados a discutir aqui fueron que 13 de 14 alineaciones estaban dentro de 1 degrees de los valores astronomicos predichos (y las 14 dentro de 1,5 degrees). Para explicar estos hallazgos y los de los monticulos de efigies de plataformas de animales gigantes en el sitio, proponemos una cosmologia en el Preceramico tardio de alineamientos solares, lunares y de animales sobrenaturales vinculados a constelaciones de nubes oscuras. La creencia compartida en una cosmologia que incluia una fuerza castigadora pudo haber facilitado las transacciones al engendrar confianza entre individuos que vivian a traves de valles fluviales y a diferentes altitudes.