KIVAS – INVERTED PYRAMIDS AND OBSERVATORIES

by Dr. Ron Anjard.

Many experts now agree that Stonehenge was an observatory. There are many such structures have been found in New England, particularly New Hampshire and Vermont. The Mayans of Mesoamerica were quite skilled in astronomy and even orientated temples and buildings to determine equinoxes; they even used a system of rocks in a circular pattern, like Stonehenge, for observatories. It has been reported that even in Peru the Inca or pre-Inca had a similar structure, but made of wood instead of stone.

But few people know of the Kivas of the American Indians. Especially in the Southwest. Kivas do exist as far north as Kansas. According to some experts who have carefully analyzed them, somewhat as Hawkins analyzed Stonehenge, Kivas are permanent and very accurate observatories. But a friend, who is a Hopi, has shared the information that Kivas are inverted pyramids. They originally were intended to be two portions – the all-familiar structure above the ground and its counterpart extending far down into the earth. Simply for matters of security, as it was explained to me, the upper sections were not built. But the value of the pyramid, its ability to provide balancing energies and other aspects important to the American Indians, were still obtained even with the Pyramid inverted in the ground. The Zuni, like the Hopi, consider the Kivas sacred. To the American Indians, the Kivas are sacred temples, as were the Egyptian pyramids, used for initiation of members into the various clans and for other religious ceremonies.

These Kivas, then, have the same purpose as not only the Egyptian pyramids but also as the other American pyramids in {56} Mesoamerica and Peru.

The Kivas have also been analyzed as observatories in the Southwest USA. There are Kivas, for example, at Pueblo Bonito, Chetro Ketl and Casa Rinconada in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, and they are large. The Kiva at Casa Rinconada is approximately 65 feet across and has two stories above ground. It has a huge T-shaped door at ground level. This ‘Tau’ shape has a very special religious significance to the Hopi and is also found in Peru.

The usual practice for megalithic observatories outside of North America, was to move markers progressively outside of the structure from site to site or to align on makers outside of the core. The key is that the markers are outside the main complex. For the Native American, it’s the same basic concept but the markers were in the perimeter with key windows, the entering light shown on slots or holes on this inside surface. This unusual calendar was maintained by moving markers stepwise from slot to slot. Each Kiva had a different style. They were in a variety of combinations and locations which have been extensively analyzed by experts.

Both Pueblo Bonito and Casa Rinconada each had 34 stations. Actually 28 and 29 of these monitored the moon rises and sun rises per lunar month. The other stations were used for following a master cycle. An important point is that the Indian concept of duality is extended into the Kiva. It has been hypothesized that the western half of Casa Rinconada had been used as a solar calendar, then the eastern half might have served as a lunar calendar.

There is yet another astronomical surprise found in the Kivas. It is important to know that the ‘morning star’, Venus, was very significant to our ancient ancestors throughout the Americas. A detailed analysis {57} at Chetroketl Kiva indicated that the 292 days of the average Venus heliacal rising interval can easily be processed in its combination of stations. The last point, therefore, is that Venus was an important part of the American Indian’s astronomical system.

There is much yet to be learned about the ancient Americans. Only recently have modern people recognized that our Indians had important concepts worth understanding. We are now appreciating their working knowledge of their own environment and of our world.