Archaeoastronomical study of Andean temples in Arica and Parinacota, Chile

TL;DR

This study investigates the orientations of Andean Christian churches in Arica and Parinacota, Chile, to understand historical and cultural influences on their construction and alignment patterns.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed archaeoastronomical analysis of church orientations in this region, linking architectural patterns to cultural and religious practices.

Findings

Identified common orientation patterns among churches

Suggested cultural influences on architectural alignment

Provided preliminary data for further archaeoastronomical research

Abstract

After a historical and cultural overview of the "Indian republic", the Andean religiosity and the churches of the highlands of Arica, we detail our archaeoastronomical studies on the orientations of the Andean Christian churches in the region of Arica and Parinacota, and analyze some preliminary results. We conclude with a brief discussion on the patterns of orientation found in our measurements and on their possible causes.