Machu Pichu

This sacred stone was used to make predictions of the coming year. On the summer solstice, as the sun rises, it passes light through the Sun Gate on a mountain peak accross the valley. It the shone through the window in the temple that surrounded this place. Shamans would use the shadows and light cast off the rock to make predictions.

The stone shown in this beautiful picture is commonly called the "intiwatana", which translates into English as "the hitching-post of the sun". This stone was used for measuring time (solstice and equinox) from the sun's rays, and is part of a complex system the Incas used for making astronomical measurements. For instance the intiwatana served to determine the beginning of sowing and harvesting seasons. Claiming that this stone was used to "make predictions for the coming year" is missleading, as it may suggest the intiwatana was used for divination purposes. And by the way, "shamans" lived thousands of kilometers away from the Andes, and had nothing to do with the andean culture.

The predictions I referred to were for the coming seasons, which as you said were used to determine, or "predict" the sowing and harvest times. I should have been more clear.

I used the word "shaman" in lieu of "holy man" or "medicine man", "priest" or something like that. In North American culture, the word "shaman" is sometimes substituted to describe this type of person.

Neil, These Peru pictures are just wonderful. When I look at them I feel lighter and energized. There's something magical about Cuzco that you capture, and I've never been there myself.

What camera do you use? When were you there?