The River and the Sky: Astronomy and Topography in Caral Society

America’s first urban centers were allegedly located at the Supe Valley sites in Peru. After investigating the location and the

orientation of the main built structures, we show that it is not only the presence of theSupe River that determines their orientation

but also that astronomical relationships within the orientation of the buildings dictate their setting within the valley. The

southernmost position of moonrise on the horizon seems to be the most important astronomical target. There is the possibility of

a trend toward attributing greater importance to the June solstice sunrise and the rising of certain stars or asterisms. These

orientations could relate to specific moments throughout the year, in particular to seasonal rains, subsequent river flooding,

and agricultural cycles. This is one of the earliest examples of the interaction of land- and skyscapes in human cultures and

indeed the first in the Americas.

Caral. Supe Valley. Andean Formative period. Orientation. Topography. Landscape. Archaeoastronomy.