Abstract
We present social aspects related to the concepts of border, ushnu and lunar observation at the inca site of La Ciudacita, Tucuman province, northwestern Argentina. The analysis focused on the possibility of observing the lunistice or major lunar standstill, in relation to concepts of geographical latitude, architecture and horizon landmarks from the perspective of cultural astronomy. Our hypothesis is that the ushnu serves as a representation of the Moon at the zenith, south of the Tropic of Capricorn, highlighting its utility for following and predicting eclipses. Results show that the relationship between the ushnu and gnomon in observing the Moon’s phases was possibly linked to relations of power and the expansion of Tawantinsuyu, circa 1470 AD.
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