In this episode, Dr. Brian S. Bauer, a Full Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, takes us on a journey through his archaeological investigations of ancient South American landscapes. Specializing in archaeological and ethnohistorical methods, Dr. Bauer draws on decades of fieldwork to reveal how astronomy, architecture, and mythology were intricately woven into the spiritual life of the Inca. His research emphasizes the importance of understanding indigenous knowledge systems and how these systems were encoded in the physical landscape through complex alignments and sacred structures. Figure 01: Episode graphic. Courtesy of the author. Dr. Bauer begins by recounting his fieldwork at Lake Titicaca, where he investigated the Island of the Sun—an important ceremonial site for the Inca and earlier cultures. He describes the discovery of a remarkable solstice alignment, framed by two large stone pillars, which marked the rising and setting of the sun during key points of the solar year. This alignment, as Dr. Bauer explains, was more than a timekeeping device. It functioned as a ritual focal point, bringing together astronomy, mythology, and state ceremonies that reaffirmed the Inca’s divine connection to the cosmos. The careful placement of these pillars speaks to the precision and intentionality with which the Inca integrated natural features into their ceremonial architecture, reinforcing their cosmological worldview. Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient WritingsOther ArtifactsNewsGeneralHistory & ArchaeologyScience & SpaceMysterious PhenomenaHuman OriginsScienceReligionsFolkloreMyths & LegendsPremiumPreviewRead Later