On one side, the sea and the echo of the waves, the extensive sand contrasts with a field of cattails, and the sun becomes overwhelming at the Áspero Archaeological Center. As I walk through its huacas, it is incredible to imagine that thousands of years ago other people also walked this place, south of Supe Puerto, in Barranca. They walked, fished, exchanged food and also investigated the stars.

This structure could be related to other observatories found in the same city of Caral. Therefore, it arouses the curiosity of researchers.

“In Caral, and now here too, we believe that one has been found – it is just being excavated – but Due to its characteristics and its location, it could also be an astronomical observatory.”the specialist told this newspaper. And being a fishing city, for this work it was important to know the changes in the sea and the movement of the stars.

David Palomino, field manager of the archaeological center, indicates that the discovery is located in the southern periphery. It is reached after passing through the Huaca de los Ídolos and the Huaca Alta.

The excavation has taken about a year. The team was led by archaeologist Jhordan Vallejos Martinez, along with four other workers. He explains that this discovery was not a coincidence: previous research based on Caral’s studies, the presence of funerary goods and the gradual expansion of the environment were taken into account.

However, after identifying the space, they realized that “The filling deposit from later occupations is very large”. Today he continues his work, hard work that fills him with pride.

“This is a great advance. It also helps a lot, more than anything in trying to understand how this whole space is working and how to contribute to the understanding of Caralina society”the specialist tells us.

The answers in the stars

Huanca. This is a key word to understand the functioning of the structure found in Áspero.

Vallejos Martínez indicates that a huanca “is an embedded stone”, in this case on platforms that could be used to understand both astronomical movements and possibly climate changes.

Due to its shape, it is reminiscent of the Intihuatana, which many may have appreciated in Machu Picchu. And yes, it is also a type of huanca, points out Vallejos Martínez.