Professor shares Andean discovery

In the 33-foot high Andean temple, Benfer's team found the earliest known astronomical alignment and sculptures in the New World

(...) For Benfer, the most significant finds from the temple were the numerous astronomical alignments, suggesting that the Andeans used constellations to guide their lives.
He said ancient Andean forecasters used the astronomical alignments to predict weather such as droughts and floods.

However, these astronomical alignments no longer point to significant constellations and will not do so again for approximately another 22,000 years, Benfer said.
He said these minor positioning differences prove that the astronomical alignments are not simply coincidental.

"That was the only time you would have alignment with the constellations and the solstice," Benfer said, "The only time it would be of any use."

He added other excavated temples in the region contained the exact same angle alignments, which further supports his theory. (...)

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http://digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=19585