Archaeoastronomy Topics Archaeology

Archaeoastronomy is the study of the cosmological knowledge of ancient cultures, as revealed by texts, calendrical systems, monuments, and other ancient artifacts. As a recognized field of scientific study, it operates within the speculative limits of mainstream physical and historical science: that is, it does not postulate such things as ancient astronauts, extraterrestrial visitors, mystical wisdom, magical locations, Atlantis, etc. All such subjects are covered in Astroarchaeology (or other subcategories of Science/Anomalies_and_Alternative_Science.)

• Top/Science/Astronomy/Calendars and Timekeeping
• Top/Science/Astronomy/History
• Top/Science/Astronomy/In the Arts

• Chevalier's ASTR 341 Home Page - Course notes for the Archaeoastronomy course at the University of Virginia, USA.
  
• Archaeoastronomy - Dr. Cornelius Holtorf ponders the relationship of Archaeoastronomy to the megaliths of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
  
• An archaeoastronomy sensation from Germany? - Report on the display of the Sky Disc of Nebra from The Cosmic Mirror #236.
  
• Archaeoastronomy: An Interview with David Dearborn - Interview with David Dearnorn, a specialist in Peruvian Astronomy.
  
• Ancient Observatories: Chaco Canyon - The Exploratorium's multimedia website on the site of Chaco Canyon. Includes a webcast from the Winter Solstice 2004.
  
• ISAAC - International Society for Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture - Contact details for this international academic society.
  
• Kitora Kofun - Japan - Referenced article exploring this ancient Japanese kofun (burial mound). Astrological charts have been determined from the "star paintings" inside the tomb.
  
• Aztec Astronomy and Observation of Nature - Explains how the alignment of some of the temples illustrated the spring solar equinox, the relationship to the stories of the gods, and the calendar systems.
  
• Sites in Asuka, Japan - Stone relics and monuments, of unknown age or origin, with possible Solstitial and/or Principle Term alignments. With photos.
  
• Oldest Astronomical Monument Found - Discovery of a 6,500-year-old monument at Nabta, Egypt. BBC article.
  
• Ligustic archaeoastronomy - Ligurian Archaeoastronomy, mainly in Italian but with some English and German translations.
  
• Ancient Egyptian Chronology and the Astronomical Orientation of Pyramids - Article by Kate Spence contending that the Egyptians aligned the pyramids to north by using the simultaneous transit of two circumpolar stars. [PDF]
  
• Sun Earth Day 2005 - The NASA site for Sun-Earth day 2005 (March 20). The theme is 'Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge'. Includes webcasts.
  
• Megalithic Sites of Great Britain - Re-evaluation of the existence of the Megalithic Calendar proposed by Alexander Thom.
  
• Parowan Gap displays yearly spectacle - A news story on a solsticial alignment at a petroglyph site in Utah.
  
• A Brief Evaluation of Kate Spence's Article in NATURE - Article rebutting Kate Spence's theory that the pyramids were aligned to north by using the simultaneous transit of two circumpolar stars.
  
• Prehistoric Moon Map Unearthed - The BBC reports that astronomer Dr Philip Stooke has found a map of the moon in an Irish tomb that pre-dates the earliest known one by about 5000 years.
  
• Traditions of the Sun: Chaco Culture National Historical Park - Features a collaborative project between SECEF, Ideum, the NPS, other organizations, and individuals. Contains an overview, photos, a timeline, news, credits, and contact information.
  
• Aboriginal Star Knowledge - Native American Astronomy, with a focus on Lakota star knowledge.
  
• The Dogon and Sirius - A detailed examination of M. Griaule's 1950 paper "Un Systeme Soudanais de Sirius" in terms of both ethnography and astronomy.
  
• AR315 Lecture Timetable - Archaeoastronomy Lecture notes and photographs from Leicester University.
  
• Stone Age Astronomy: Mythical Ireland - New information and research about the astronomy of the Irish Stone Age, plus sections on the movements of the heavenly bodies and links to other sites.
  
• How the Shaman Stole the Moon - An archaeoastronomy book by William H. Calvin of the University of Washington. The book, which describes a dozen ways of predicting eclipses, can be purchased or downloaded for personal reading at no charge.
  
• The Sophia Project - The Centre for the Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology at Bath Spa University, UK
  
• Center for Archaeoastronomy - Founded in 1978 at the University of Maryland to advance research, education and public awareness of archaeoastronomy.
  
• Archaeo-astronomical hypotheses on some Ligurian engravings - Study of rupestral engravings in Italy.
  
• Carving the Cosmos - Astronomical analysis of petroglyphs on sandstone panels, Arizona.
  
• Scientific American: Circles for Space - An article on how a German "Stonehenge" may be the world's oldest observatory.
  
• Heavenly Mathematics: Cultural Astronomy - An interdisciplinary course on cultural astronomy. The course has a goal of imparting an understanding of basic astronomical phenomena and an appreciation of their cultural significance throughout the world.
  
• Sundial, calendar and Khmer temples - Determination of the orientation of ancient Khmer temples based on solar observations. Presents the data for several sites.
  
• Pathfinder - Ancient American Calendar - Observe video of light/shadow interplay on 1,000+ year old rock art marking equinox sunrise at a remote, newly discovered Colorado site.
  
• Die Himmelsscheibe von Nebra (The Sky Disc of Nebra) - Largely German description of the Bronze Age artefact umearthed in Saxony-Anhalt, with FAQs in English.
  
• The Hanwakan Center for Prehistoric Astronomy, Cosmology and Landscape Studies, Inc. - Homepage of the Hanwakan Center, organized for the gathering of traditions and stories born of mankind's interaction with the physical environment and his understanding of the relationship between earth and sky.
  
• Ancient Tomb Captured Both Sun and Moon - A unique prehistoric tomb in Ireland has been revealed to align to both the midsummer Sun and the midwinter Moon. BBC article
  
• Cursus: solving a 6,000-year-old puzzle - An article from "British Archaeology" magazine arguing for an astronomical motive for the building of some cursus monuments in prehistoric Britain.
  
• Lakota Ethnoastronomy - Well referenced article by Steven Mizrach upon astronomy as practiced by the Lakota.
  
• BBC - Radio 4 - Stars In Their Eyes - Rajesh Mirchandani looks at the ancient cosmologies of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India. Requires Real Player.
  
• Encounter with the Moon stone - The BBC's science editor comes face to face with what is claimed to be the oldest map of the Moon ever made.
  
• Ancient African Skies - An article on the Borana Calendar by Laurance Doyle of the SETI Institute.
  
• A Critical Look at Archaeoastronomy and the Anasazi Culture of the American Southwest - An overview of the theoretical foundations of archaeoastronomy with a case study of the Anazazi Culture.
  
• Cultural Astronomy - A multimedia introduction to archaeoastronomy and ethnoastronomy suitable for K-12 teachers and students. Part of the University of Chicago's Digital Library.
  
• Solar Astronomy in the Prehistoric Southwest - A slide show of Anasazi astronomical sites with extensive notes.
  
• Pyramids Lined Up With The Stars - British Egyptologist puts forward an astronomical theory for the northern alignment of the Great Pyramid at Giza. BBC article.
  
• JC Holbrook's Publications and Web projects - A variety of projects ranging from African Astronomy to Zodiac Mosaics.
  
• The Material World - BBC Radio 4 interview on the methodology of archaeoastronomy with Prof. Clive Ruggles and Dr. Frank Prendergast. Requires Real Player.
  
• Stones of Wonder - A guide the megalithic monuments of Scotland and their astronomical alignments. Also contains illustrations, a bibliography and suggestions for the best times of year to visit.
  
• Loughcrew Megalithic Cairns - Ireland - An introduction the to astronomical theories surrounding these Irish Neolithic Cairns.
  
• Germany's Sky Disk seen as key for archaeoastronomy - A description of the Sky Disc of Nebra from The Cosmic Mirror #243
  
• Lithuanian Ethnoastronomy - An online book of the folkore in Lithuania surrounding the sun, moon and stars by Jonas Vaiðkûnas.
  
• SEAC - Société Européene pour l’Astronomie dans la Culture / European Society for Astronomy in Culture - An interdisciplinary website dedicated to research, education and care of heritage in Astronomy in Culture.
  
• The Shaw Butte Notebook - This site makes extensive use of Quicktime to describe and demonstrate the workings of an Hohokam observatory.
  
• Ancient Astronomy - An interactive atlas of the world links to the archaeoastronomy and multicultural cosmology of ancient times.
  
• University of Massachusetts Sunwheel - A project to build a stone circle aligned to the sunrises and sunsets of the solstices and equinoxes, as well as the north pole star, for use by the community as a tool for education and outreach.
  
• Ice Age Star Map Discovered - A controversial discovery of a 16,000-year-old "map of the night sky" in Lascaux caves. BBC article.
  
• Cosmic link to stone circles - Ancient stone circles and tombs in Ireland align with the Sun and the Moon, say astronomers. BBC Article
  
• German Site Predates Stonehenge - A possible astronomical observatory has been found near Goseck, eastern Germany. From the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (English Edition).
  
• Ethnoastronomy of the Lakota - Dr. Mark Hollabaugh presents his ethnographic research of Lakota astronomy.
  
• Southern Stars: Aboriginal Astronomy - Evidence of highly complex astronomy within Australian Aboriginal society.
  
• Dioptra - The earliest dioptra (c.300 BCE) was a device for measuring the angle, in parts of a "Sign", between two celestial objects. Photos and descriptions of how to make one and how they work.
  
• BBC World Service: The Stargazers of Ancient Egypt - Dr Kate Spence's theory of the cardinal alignment of Great Pyramid explained.
  
• Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) Phase IV - Cesare Berrini's hypotheses concerning the relationships between bas-relief carvings on the Gateway of the Sun, the annual solar cycle, and geometric time measurement.
  
• Indiana Jones and the Astronomers of Yore - Introduction to basic archaeoastronomical concepts with examples from across the world.
  
  

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