In this contribution, we seek to identify conceptual elements in the Inca and pre-Inca cultures (Andean primordial civilizations) that are consonant and exhibit convergence with science, and more specifically with astronomy and astrophysics. Moreover, this procedure may allow, as a consequence of an analysis based on some aspects of epistemology and astrophysics, a deeper discussion within a structuralist/poststructuralist point of view. Finally, in this investigation, we seek to identify epistemological contributions in these cultures that may broaden our view on the area of archaeoastronomy.
The Incas worshipped the Sun, with light and shadow effects in their constructs commonly denoting such events as the solstices and equinoxes. They also honored and venerated many features of both natural and man-made landscapes, which they felt to be endowed with superhuman powers. In Quechua, these shrines were known as huacas, and at the time of the Spanish conquest there were thousands of them. Soon after subduing the Inca empire, the Spaniards began a campaign against the indigenous religion, which included a systematic eradication of huacas. Shrines that were large carved stones and outcroppings survived, however, and were subjects of this research for astronomical orientations marking significant solar events. Examples of Inca astronomy are explored in this paper. The approach is a holistic one in that it considers multiples levels of meaning including cultural motifs, topographic and astronomical contexts, sightlines, as well as light and shadow effects throughout the year, especially at times of the solstice, equinox, zenith, and anti-zenith suns. Astronomy was thoroughly interwoven throughout many facets of Inca society. KEYWORDSequinox -history and philosophy of astronomy -Inca -sociology of astronomysolstice 1
In this contribution, we seek to identify points of contact between the conceptions about space, time, and Cosmos, carried out by thinkers and scientists throughout history, and the corresponding cosmogonic view of the Inka culture. We conclude that a proper understanding and interpretation of the Inka legacy in the fields of astronomy and archeoastronomy can only be carried out properly when inserted in the context of the Inka culture and its worldview.
We outline our experience in organizing the 9th edition of the International Workshop on Astronomy and Relativistic Astrophysics: from Quarks to Cosmos, in virtual format, denominated IWARA2020 Video Conference, held from 6 to 12 September, 2020. The IWARA 2020 Video Conference aimed to bring together leading academic scientists, professors, students, and research scholars for exchanging experiences and research results and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, concerns, practical challenges, and solutions adopted in the research fields within the scope of the conference. The IWARA 2020 Video Conference offered to the participants a platform for scientific and academic projects, partnerships, and presentation of high-quality research contributions describing original and unpublished results on several topics related as new phenomena and new states of matter in the Universe, general relativity, gravitation, cosmology, dwarf stars, neutron and exotic stars, pulsars, black holes, GRBs, astroparticles and nuclear physics, QCD and heavy-ion reactions, quantum gravity and quantum cosmology, gravitational-wave astronomy, dark energy, dark matter, strange matter, high-energy cosmic rays, galaxies, blazars and quasars, strong magnetic fields in the Universe as well as laboratories, observatories, telescopes, and other experimental and observational facilities that will define the future directions of astrophysics, astronomy, cosmology, nuclear and astroparticle physics and the future of physics at the energy frontiers, and topics related to these.
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