Category of Astronomical Heritage: tangible immovable
Caguana, Puerto Rico
Format: Short Description (ICOMOS-IAU Case Study format)
Presentation
Geographical position
Barrio Caguana, Utuado, Puerto Rico
Location
Latitude 18° 17′ 41″ N, longitude 66° 46′ 52″ W. Elevation 310m above mean sea level.
General description
The Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site is considered one of the most important archeological sites in the West Indies.
Brief inventory
Fig. 1. General plan of Caguana. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Approximately 13 ball courts (bateyes) have been identified. Monoliths and petroglyphs carved by the Taínos can be seen among the rocks and stones. Some of the monoliths weigh over a tonne, and were most likely brought from the Tanama River located adjacent to the site.
History
Studies estimate that the site is over 700 years old, built by the Taíno in around 1270 AD.
Cultural and symbolic dimension
Fig. 2. The view from Plaza C towards Polaris. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Fig. 3. A row of stones aligned upon the equinoxes with reliefs displaying human figures. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
The plan of the site indicates that the plazas were aligned according to specific astronomical events. The site evidently functioned as a place to observe or predict astronomical events. There are symbolic representations of astronomical objects as rock engravings on rock slabs. The cultural landscape surrounding the site (and particularly its topography of mountains and rivers) represents the cosmovision of the builders.
Authenticity and integrity
Barrio Caguana, Utuado, Puerto Rico
Location
Latitude 18° 17′ 41″ N, longitude 66° 46′ 52″ W. Elevation 310m above mean sea level.
General description
The Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site is considered one of the most important archeological sites in the West Indies.
Brief inventory
Fig. 1. General plan of Caguana. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Approximately 13 ball courts (bateyes) have been identified. Monoliths and petroglyphs carved by the Taínos can be seen among the rocks and stones. Some of the monoliths weigh over a tonne, and were most likely brought from the Tanama River located adjacent to the site.
History
Studies estimate that the site is over 700 years old, built by the Taíno in around 1270 AD.
Cultural and symbolic dimension
Fig. 2. The view from Plaza C towards Polaris. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Fig. 3. A row of stones aligned upon the equinoxes with reliefs displaying human figures. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
The plan of the site indicates that the plazas were aligned according to specific astronomical events. The site evidently functioned as a place to observe or predict astronomical events. There are symbolic representations of astronomical objects as rock engravings on rock slabs. The cultural landscape surrounding the site (and particularly its topography of mountains and rivers) represents the cosmovision of the builders.
Authenticity and integrity
Latitude 18° 17′ 41″ N, longitude 66° 46′ 52″ W. Elevation 310m above mean sea level.
General description
The Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site is considered one of the most important archeological sites in the West Indies.
Brief inventory
Fig. 1. General plan of Caguana. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Approximately 13 ball courts (bateyes) have been identified. Monoliths and petroglyphs carved by the Taínos can be seen among the rocks and stones. Some of the monoliths weigh over a tonne, and were most likely brought from the Tanama River located adjacent to the site.
History
Studies estimate that the site is over 700 years old, built by the Taíno in around 1270 AD.
Cultural and symbolic dimension
Fig. 2. The view from Plaza C towards Polaris. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Fig. 3. A row of stones aligned upon the equinoxes with reliefs displaying human figures. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
The plan of the site indicates that the plazas were aligned according to specific astronomical events. The site evidently functioned as a place to observe or predict astronomical events. There are symbolic representations of astronomical objects as rock engravings on rock slabs. The cultural landscape surrounding the site (and particularly its topography of mountains and rivers) represents the cosmovision of the builders.
Authenticity and integrity
The Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site is considered one of the most important archeological sites in the West Indies.
Brief inventory
Fig. 1. General plan of Caguana. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Approximately 13 ball courts (bateyes) have been identified. Monoliths and petroglyphs carved by the Taínos can be seen among the rocks and stones. Some of the monoliths weigh over a tonne, and were most likely brought from the Tanama River located adjacent to the site.
History
Studies estimate that the site is over 700 years old, built by the Taíno in around 1270 AD.
Cultural and symbolic dimension
Fig. 2. The view from Plaza C towards Polaris. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Fig. 3. A row of stones aligned upon the equinoxes with reliefs displaying human figures. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
The plan of the site indicates that the plazas were aligned according to specific astronomical events. The site evidently functioned as a place to observe or predict astronomical events. There are symbolic representations of astronomical objects as rock engravings on rock slabs. The cultural landscape surrounding the site (and particularly its topography of mountains and rivers) represents the cosmovision of the builders.
Authenticity and integrity
Fig. 1. General plan of Caguana. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Approximately 13 ball courts (bateyes) have been identified. Monoliths and petroglyphs carved by the Taínos can be seen among the rocks and stones. Some of the monoliths weigh over a tonne, and were most likely brought from the Tanama River located adjacent to the site.
History
Studies estimate that the site is over 700 years old, built by the Taíno in around 1270 AD.
Cultural and symbolic dimension
Fig. 2. The view from Plaza C towards Polaris. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Fig. 3. A row of stones aligned upon the equinoxes with reliefs displaying human figures. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
The plan of the site indicates that the plazas were aligned according to specific astronomical events. The site evidently functioned as a place to observe or predict astronomical events. There are symbolic representations of astronomical objects as rock engravings on rock slabs. The cultural landscape surrounding the site (and particularly its topography of mountains and rivers) represents the cosmovision of the builders.
Authenticity and integrity
Studies estimate that the site is over 700 years old, built by the Taíno in around 1270 AD.
Cultural and symbolic dimension
Fig. 2. The view from Plaza C towards Polaris. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Fig. 3. A row of stones aligned upon the equinoxes with reliefs displaying human figures. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
The plan of the site indicates that the plazas were aligned according to specific astronomical events. The site evidently functioned as a place to observe or predict astronomical events. There are symbolic representations of astronomical objects as rock engravings on rock slabs. The cultural landscape surrounding the site (and particularly its topography of mountains and rivers) represents the cosmovision of the builders.
Authenticity and integrity
Fig. 2. The view from Plaza C towards Polaris. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
Fig. 3. A row of stones aligned upon the equinoxes with reliefs displaying human figures. Figure © Angel Rodriguez
The plan of the site indicates that the plazas were aligned according to specific astronomical events. The site evidently functioned as a place to observe or predict astronomical events. There are symbolic representations of astronomical objects as rock engravings on rock slabs. The cultural landscape surrounding the site (and particularly its topography of mountains and rivers) represents the cosmovision of the builders.