AY 101 Lecture 1: Archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy is the study of ancient (pre‐technological) humankind's awareness
of celestial phenomena and its influence on their societies. A number of these
influences in ancient societies have been identified, including how structures were built,
early forms of calendars, and the development of mathematical concepts.
Ancient structures
Ample evidence exists that in ancient times, many cultural groups all over the world built
single structures, buildings, and even cities facing in astronomically significant
directions. For example, the Newgrange passage grave in Ireland (circa 3200 B.C.)
faces the mid‐winter sunrise, and Stonehenge, in southern England (circa 2800 B.C.),
points toward the mid‐summer sunrise. Similarly, various Mayan buildings in
Mesoamerica show relationships to significant horizon rise and set positions for the
planet Venus.
Early calendars
Before ancient humans recognized that the yearly cycle predictably repeats itself, they
regulated agricultural, hunting, and religious activities by directly observing celestial
phenomena. These phenomena included solar position against the background of stars,
the cyclic north‐south oscillation of the Sun's rise and set positions on the horizon, or
the pattern of nighttime constellations. Evidence of early peoples' celestial timekeeping
include the orientation of Stonehenge, which suggests a calendrical awareness, and the
Sun Circle (circa 1100 A.D.) built by the people of the Indian city of Cahokia, Illinois.
Navigation
When societies embarked on extended travel where natural features on land were not
available, the sky provided an alternative means to mark one's position during journeys.
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