- Astonomic Observatory

Object Name: Astonomic Observatory
Creation Date: 600-900 AD
Culture: Olmeca-Xicalanca
Site: Xochicalco, Morelos
Material:
Repository:
Image source: © Dr. Manuel Aguilar
At Xochicalco we find a number of subterranean galleries partially hollowed out by human hands. In two of them, vertical shafts extend from a cave to the surface of the ground above. An observer situated beneath one of these openings 12 meters below ground level can see a small circular patch of blue sky overhead. On the occasions when the sun passes the overhead point, it throws a powerful ray of light into the darkened environment. These shafts may have served as zenith solar observatories.

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