Catequilla facts for kids
Aerial view of the Cerro de Catequilla, archaeological site at the summit
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| Alternative name | Kati-Killa |
|---|---|
| Location | Pomasqui Valley |
| Region | Ecuador |
| Altitude | 2,638 m (8,655 ft) |
| Type | Archaeological site |
| Length | 107m |
| Diameter | 68m |
| Height | 25cm |
| History | |
| Material | Stone |
| Founded | 800 |
| Cultures | Quitu-Cara |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Oswaldo Tovar |
Monte Catequilla, also called Kati-Killa, is an amazing ancient site in the Pomasqui Valley of Ecuador. It sits on a mountaintop in the Parish of San Antonio near Quito. This special place is about 2,638 meters (8,655 feet) high.
Experts believe the Pre-Columbian era Quitu-Cara culture built Catequilla. They likely used it as an astronomical observatory long before the Incas arrived. What makes it super unique is that it's the only ancient site in the Americas located exactly on the Earth's Equator.
Contents
Catequilla's Ancient Secrets
The name Catequilla comes from the Quechua language. It means "follower of the moon." This suggests its connection to observing the sky. People built this site around 800 AD.
What Catequilla Looks Like
The main part of the site is a large semicircular stone wall. It is about 107 meters (351 feet) long and 68 meters (223 feet) across. The wall's height changes, from about 25 centimeters (10 inches) to 1.2 meters (3.9 feet). However, broken stones nearby suggest it might have been taller, perhaps over 2 meters (6.6 feet) high.
In the northwest part of the site, there's a circular stone platform. It's called a lithic disk and is about 8 meters (26 feet) wide. This platform is made mostly of stones and has three lines of rocks. Long ago, there was also a water source on this hill.
Observing the Sky
Catequilla, along with two other stone circles called Jarata and Pacpo, forms a straight line. During the June solstice, the shadows from the mountains fall perfectly along this line. This suggests the sites were used for tracking the sun's movements.
Some local people today think these circles were for threshing grain. But many clues, especially the way they line up with the sky, point to them being ancient observatories.
Discoveries and Importance
Archaeologist Oswaldo Tovar led excavations at Catequilla. His teams found many pieces of pottery from both Inca and colonial times.
Because Catequilla is right on the Equator, people often call it the "Middle of the World." This makes it a very important historical and geographical spot.
About 1,550 meters (5,085 feet) north of Catequilla, you can find the Inca pucara (stone fortress) of Rumicucho.
See also
In Spanish: Catequilla para niños
