El Caracol, Chichen Itza

El Caracol, the Observatory, is a unique structure at pre-Columbian Maya civilization site of Chichen Itza. El Caracol, which means 'snail' in Spanish, is so named due to the spiral staircase inside the tower.[1]

This article is about the pre-Columbian structure at Chichen Itza. For the hydrological feature near Mexico City, see El Caracol.
El Caracol
Upper part of the tower

History

The structure is dated to around AD 906, the Post Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, by the stele on the Upper Platform.[1]

It is suggested that the El Caracol was an ancient Mayan observatory building and provided a way for the Mayan people to observe changes in the sky due to the flattened landscape of the Yucatán with no natural markers for this function around Chichen Itza.[2] The observers could view the sky above the vegetation on the Yucatán Peninsula without any obstruction.[3]

Observations
Laser scan of El Caracol

Mayan astronomers knew from naked-eye observations that Venus appeared on the western and disappeared on the eastern horizons at different times in the year, and that it took 584 days to complete one cycle.[4]

They also knew that five of these Venus cycles equaled eight solar years.[4] Venus would therefore make an appearance at the northerly and southerly extremes at eight-year intervals.

Of 29 possible astronomical events (eclipses, equinoxes, solstices, etc.) believed to be of interest to the Mesoamerican residents of Chichén Itzá, sight lines for 20 can be found in the structure. Since a portion of the tower resting on El Caracol has been lost, it is possible that other observations will never be ascertained.[4]

References
  1. Sharer & Traxler (2006, p.563)
  2. Aveni, Anthony F., Gibbs, Sharon L., Hartung, Horst (June 1975). "The Caracol Tower at Chichen Itza: An Ancient Astronomical Observatory?". Science. 188 (4192): 977–985. doi:10.1126/science.188.4192.977. PMID 17759669.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "Intriguing Facts About Chichen Itza's El Caracol Observatory". STS Travel. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  4. Stockton, William (1986-03-25). "Ancient Astronomy Points To New Views Of Mayan Life". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-01.

Bibliography

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