Los Morteros-The Mortars

1
Los Morteros-The Mortars
2
What Are They?

• Used for milling, weaving or pottery making,
  supports for an apparatus used in the making of
  chicha (corn beer).
• Mirrors used for making astronomical
  observations.

3
What Do Astronomers Think?

• Modern astronomers, however, say no one can
  seriously make this claim, since it is far more
  practical to observe the sky directly, without
  the use of mirrors. Again, we know so little
  about the Incas, despite a generalized perception
  that they were intellectually advanced, that
  possibly an explanation rejected by modern
  science could have meanings which are hidden from
  us. -www.enjoy-machu-picchu.org/special-informat
  ion-machu-picchu-urban-sector-cluster-of-mortars.p
  hp

4
Questions?

• Will water be a sufficient medium to observe the
  stars and planets? If not, what will?
• Does the water magnify the image?
• What did I see?
• When can I see the same thing again?
• Can I see it from that location only, or will it
  work anywhere?
• What was the function of these pools to the Inca?

5
Hypotheses

• I should be able to view objects of very bright
  magnitudes from anywhere, given good viewing
  conditions.
• Water should be a sufficient medium for observing
  these objects.
• The Mortars were used to make some sort of
  astronomical observation.

6
Project

• Recreate pools of water and see if anything can
  be observed.
• Use Starry Night to determine what I saw, and
  when I could see the same thing again.
• Determine the orientation of the Mortars in
  respect to the cardinal directions.