Archaeoastronomy in northern Chile: Andean churches of the Arica and Parinacota region

Abstract

We present the results obtained from the analysis of the precise spatial orientations of almost forty old colonial Christian churches located in the Arica and Parinacota region. This is an extended and difficult to travel area that received little attention from parish priests, and where one might expect some dialogue to have taken place between the Western tradition and the local Aymara culture in regard to the design and construction of temples. We also briefly comment on our plans to explore neighboring areas to the region here studied, which include many additional historical constructions that share similar cultural traditions.