Archaeologists confirm Chichen Itza pyramid used in astronomy

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New observations confirm that the main pyramid in the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza, located in Mexico's southeastern Yucatan state, was built to serve as an astronomical marker for making adjustments to the calendar, the National Anthropology and History Institute, or INAH, said.

The Temple of Kukulkan (a Maya feathered serpent deity similar to the Aztec Quetzalcoatl),
usually referred to as El Castillo ('the castle') [Credit: WikiCommons]

Archaeologist Ismael Arturo Montero Garcia revealed in 2012 that the movement of the Sun over the structure occurs on May 23 and July 19, appearing at dawn on the axis of the northeast corner of the Templo de las Mesas, the INAH said in a statement.

Last Friday, when the phenomenon occurred once again, Montero returned to calculate the alignment of the west stairs of the pyramid known as El Castillo, obtaining a figure that is outstanding from the standpoint of sacred astronomy, the INAH said.

The pyramid "points to the path with only one degree of deviation with regard to the entrance to the Holtun sinkhole, a site for offerings that is under study," Montero said.

"What we have here is an astronomical observatory of notable precision in a natural environment," Montero said.