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MYSTICAL AND SACRED SITES IN THE AMERICAS
Cahokia, USA
The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, on the Mississippi River, houses the remnants of the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico. The city was occupied between 1050 & 1500 CE. The mounds had various uses including, markings, burial places and ceremonial purposes.
Chaco Canyon, USA
This site contains one of the largest manmade structures in North America and was where the Anasazi (Navajo for ‘the ancient ones’) culture flourished. The area is meshed with prehistoric roads which appear to have had religious significance rather than practical similar to the leys in the UK.
Chavin de Huantar, Peru
This site was the religious centre of the most advance civilisation of the pre-Ican era, was constructed in 327 BCE and involved the skills of architecture, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, hydraulics and acoustics. The mysterious pyramid structures have led to various theories to explain the true purpose of the temple which is known locally as The Castle.
Chichen-Itza, Mexico
This sacred city of the Itza peoples and can be divided into two groups, one the Mayan culture from the 6th – 7th centuries CE and the other the Toltec culture from the 10th – early 13th centuries CE. During the Mayan period this city became a significant religious and ceremonial centre and continued into the Toltec era. The religion of the Itza people during this time was based on human sacrifice. The most famous building on this site is Kukulcan’s Pyramid and is a square-based stepped pyramid and was created for astronomical purposes.
Copan, Honduras
Copan contains an astonishing complex of temples, plazas, a ball court, an acropolis and stairways and is the most southern ruins of the Maya culture dating from 400 – 800 CE.
Devil's Tower, USA
The Devil’s Tower is the remnant of a volcanic extrusion and has been a sacred place of worship for some of the Native American tribes since before written records. Strange light phenomena seen around the Tower have created a strong UFO connection.
Easter Island, Pacific Ocean
This island is most famous for the huge stone statues, known as moai, which were almost certainly created for the reasons that other monuments: for sacred, ritual and religious purposes. The islanders believed in ancestor worship and the moai probably represented ‘mana’: a mystical amalgam of power, prestige and wealth.
Great Serpent Mound, USA
The Great Serpent is the largest and best known of America’s ‘effigy’ mounds, carved around 1070 CE, the ‘mound’ is approximately 6 meters wide, 1.25 meters high and 411 meters long. Both ends of the ‘serpent’ align to both the summer & winter solstices.
Guadalupe, Our Lady of, Mexico
The Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe is built on the hill of Tepeyacac was where four apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe were recorded by Luis Lasso de la Vega in 1649 CE. Interesting the hill had once been the site of a temple dedicated to Tonantzin, an earth and fertility goddess who was also known as a virgin.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Canada
This site is the oldest and largest buffalo jump and is significant as the location where native North American Indians would ‘herd’ stampeding buffalo to there death over the cliff.
Izamal, Mexico
Izamal means ‘deity of the creation, dew from the sky’ in the Maya language and in the centre of this city stands the Franciscan convent dedicated to San Antonio de Padua. The church houses a carved wooden statue of the Virgin Mary which has been associated with many miracles.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Meaning ‘Old Peak’, Machu Picchu is a former fortress city high in the Andes and probably functioned as an astronomical observatory. The Intihuatana stone is believed to be an indicator of the date of the winter solstice and the site of midwinter ceremonies.
The Mayorville Medicine Wheel and Cairn Site, Canada
Medicine wheels are generally rings of concentric stone circles and straight lines radiating out from a central hub or cairns and there are 46 of these structures in Alberta. Little is known of the culture that built these structures but the term ‘medicine’ indicates the presumed religious significance of them to the native peoples.
Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA
This 4,200 meter high active volcanoes and is considered the ‘home’ of the goddess Pele. In Hawaiian legend Pele makes an appearance before every eruption in the guise of an old woman.
Mitla, Mexico
The 17th century Spanish priest Francisco de Burgoa described Mitla as a main centre of the Zapotec religion which was based on 2 main deities: Sky and Earth. The Great House of Poezalao contains the Great Hall of Columns which contains two piazzas. The northern one contains the main building is bordered by platforms, central one containing the remains of an altar.
Monte Alban, nr Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca was the capital of Zapotec culture. The artificially levelled site of Monte Alban has a 55 acre central plaza surrounded by several terraces, palaces, platforms and buildings such as the temple of the Danzantes (dancers).
Nazca Plains, Peru
This plateau, known as Pampa Colorada (Red Plain) was inhabited by the Nazca people and is the site of the most striking example of ground art anywhere in the world. Most believe that these lines are a combination of markings to indicate irrigation systems and images that have religious significance, marking parts of pilgrimages.
Ninstints, Canada
Ninstints is situated on Anthony Island, part of the Queen Charlette Islands, and are the home of the Haida people who are North American Indians. This village was inhabited during the 1700’s, but in 1863 smallpox infected the population and the village was abandon. It is still considered a sacred site by Haida peoples today.
Ollantaytambo, Cuzco, Peru
Ollantaytambo was more than a major Incan fortress as it contained an urban centre and places of worship such as the Sun Temple. The most striking feature of the area is a face in profile carved into a nearby mountain where and, on the winter solstice, the sun lines up directly with its eye.
Palenque, Mexico
These ancient ruins were first occupied around 100 BCE and the ruins consist of two main parts: the ceremonial area and the settlement area. The ceremonial area contains ruins of many temples such as the Pyramid of the Inscriptions.
Petroglyph Provincial Park, Canada
These prehistoric rock art consist of 900 images carved into the limestone and is now considered a sacred place.
Sacsayhuaman, Peru
Sacsayhuaman was more than a great fortress, it was undoubtedly a significant religious site. The main ramparts consist of three huge parallel walls, zigzagging together for 400 meters and it is believed these zigzag walls were are temple to the god of lightning as well as fortress walls. Cuzco was regarded by the Incas as the capital of the rain and sea god, Viracocha which created the sun, moon and stars.
Shiprock, USA
Shiprock or Tse Bitai (the Winged Rock) is the remnant of a volcanic eruption which is a sacred site to the indigenous people of the area and the place of many UFO sightings.
Teotihuacan, Mexico
Teotihuacan contains many temples and buildings including the Pyramid of the Moon, the Avenue of the Dead and the Pyramid of the Sun, which was built directly over a four chambered lava tube cave thought to have been occupied as a small settlement during the 1st century BCE. These buildings are thought to have astrological preposes and have been the site of many UFO sightings.
Tiahuanacu, and Lake Titicaca, Bolivia
This village was a major pre-Ican urban and religious site. The most famous monument at Teotihuacan is the Gateway of the Sun, a huge sculpture carved in low relief with the figure of a god holding two staves topped with eagles’ heads, around his head is a halo of shapes and puma heads.
Sourced from “The Encyclopaedia of the World’s Mystical and Sacred Sites” by John and Anne Spencer; Headline Book Publishing. 2002. |
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