Directory of Archaeoastronomy Resources

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Archaeoastronomy is the study of the cosmological knowledge of ancient cultures, as revealed by texts, calendrical systems, monuments, and other ancient artifacts. It does not deal with astrological or mythical lore, except as they might show awareness of particular cosmological phenomena. 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.)

Subcategories

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• Archaeoastronomers
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Resources in This Category

• A Brief Evaluation of Kate Spence's Article in NATURE

  http://www.robertbauval.co.uk/articles/articles/spence.html
  Article rebutting Kate Spence's theory that the pyramids were aligned to north by using the simultaneous transit of two circumpolar stars.

• Ancient African Skies

  http://www.space.com/searchforlife/050407_seti_african.html
  An article on the Borana Calendar by Laurance Doyle of the SETI Institute.

• Ancient Egyptian Chronology and the Astronomical Orientation of Pyramids

  http://hbar.phys.msu.su/gorm/dating/spence1.pdf
  Article by Kate Spence contending that the Egyptians aligned the pyramids to north by using the simultaneous transit of two circumpolar stars.

• Ancient Observatories: Chaco Canyon

  http://www.exploratorium.edu/chaco/index.html
  The Exploratorium's multimedia website on the site of Chaco Canyon. Includes a webcast from the Winter Solstice 2004.

• Ancient Tomb Captured Both Sun and Moon

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/313720.stm
  A unique prehistoric tomb in Ireland has been revealed to align to both the midsummer Sun and the midwinter Moon. BBC article

• AR315 Lecture Timetable

  http://www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/rug/AR315/leclist.html
  Archaeoastronomy Lecture notes and photographs from Leicester University.

• Archaeo-astronomical hypotheses on some Ligurian engravings

  http://www.archaeoastronomy.it/archaeo-astronomical_hypotheses_on_some_ligurian_engravings2.htm
  Study of rupestral engravings in Italy.

• Archaeoastronomy

  http://www.cloudbait.com/archaeoastronomy.html
  Well developed site featuring articles and photographs on a number of significant sites and their Archaeoastronomy

• Archaeoastronomy: An Interview with David Dearborn

  http://archaeology.about.com/cs/archaeoastronomy/a/dearborn.htm
  Interview with David Dearnorn, a specialist in Peruvian Astronomy.

• BBC - Radio 4 - Stars In Their Eyes

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/starsineyes.shtml
  Rajesh Mirchandani looks at the ancient cosmologies of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India. Requires Real Player.

• BBC World Service: The Stargazers of Ancient Egypt

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sci_tech/highlights/001116_pyramids.shtml
  Dr Kate Spence's theory of the cardinal alignment of Great Pyramid explained.

• Carving the Cosmos

  http://www.viewzone.com/carving_cosmos.html
  Astronomical analysis of petroglyphs on sandstone panels, Arizona.

• Center for Archaeoastronomy

  http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~tlaloc/archastro/index.html
  Founded in 1978 at the University of Maryland to advance research, education and public awareness of archaeoastronomy.

• Cosmic link to stone circles

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2928043.stm
  Ancient stone circles and tombs in Ireland align with the Sun and the Moon, say astronomers. BBC Article

• Cultural Astronomy

  http://ecuip.lib.uchicago.edu/diglib/science/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.

• Die Himmelsscheibe von Nebra (The Sky Disc of Nebra)

  http://www.lda-lsa.de/himmelsscheibe_von_nebra/
  Largely German description of the Bronze Age artefact umearthed in Saxony-Anhalt, with FAQs in English.

• Dioptra

  http://members.tripod.com/Bluestar_4/Dioptra.html
  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.

• Dogon and Sirius

  http://www.skepdic.com/dogon.html
  A detailed examination of M. Griaule's 1950 paper "Un Systeme Soudanais de Sirius".

• Encounter with the Moon stone

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1205638.stm
  The BBC's science editor comes face to face with what is claimed to be the oldest map of the Moon ever made.

• Heavenly Mathematics: Cultural Astronomy

  http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/teaching/heavenly.shtml
  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.

• How the Shaman Stole the Moon

  http://www.williamcalvin.com/bk6/
  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.

• Ice Age Star Map Discovered

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/871930.stm
  A controversial discovery of a 16,000-year-old "map of the night sky" in Lascaux caves. BBC article.

• ISAAC - International Society for Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture

  http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~tlaloc/archastro/isaac.html
  Contact details for this international academic society.

• Ligustic archaeoastronomy

  http://www.archaeoastronomy.it/index2.htm
  Ligurian Archaeoastronomy, mainly in Italian but with some English and German translations.

• Loughcrew Megalithic Cairns - Ireland

  http://www.knowth.com/loughcrew.htm
  An introduction the to astronomical theories surrounding these Irish Neolithic Cairns.

• Megalithic Sites of Great Britain

  http://www.megalithicsites.co.uk/
  Re-evaluation of the existence of the Megalithic Calendar proposed by Alexander Thom.

• Newgrange

  http://www.newgrange.com/
  Newgrange is a 5000 year old mound near the River Boyne in Ireland. An inner chamber is illuminated by the rising sun on mornings around the winter solstice.

• Oldest Astronomical Monument Found

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/72595.stm
  Discovery of a 6,500-year-old monument at Nabta, Egypt. BBC article.

• Parowan Gap displays yearly spectacle

  http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_9bd114c1-3649-5715-a803-07868dc2e9b0.html
  A news story on a solsticial alignment at a petroglyph site in Utah.

• Pathfinder - Ancient American Calendar

  http://archaeoastronomy.com/pathfinder.html
  Observe video of light/shadow interplay on 1,000+ year old rock art marking equinox sunrise at a remote, newly discovered Colorado site.

• Prehistoric Moon Map Unearthed

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/325290.stm
  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.

• Pyramids Lined Up With The Stars

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1024779.stm
  British Egyptologist puts forward an astronomical theory for the northern alignment of the Great Pyramid at Giza. BBC article.

• Scientific American: Circles for Space

  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/circles-for-space/
  An article on how a German "Stonehenge" may be the world's oldest observatory.

• SEAC - Société Européene pour l’Astronomie dans la Culture / European Society for Astronomy in Culture

  http://www.archeoastronomy.org/
  An interdisciplinary website dedicated to research, education and care of heritage in Astronomy in Culture.

• Stones of Wonder

  http://www.stonesofwonder.com/
  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.

• Sun Earth Day 2005

  http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/
  The NASA site for Sun-Earth day 2005 (March 20). The theme is 'Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge'. Includes webcasts.

• Sundial, calendar and Khmer temples

  http://www.sundial.thai-isan-lao.com/
  Determination of the orientation of ancient Khmer temples based on solar observations. Presents the data for several sites.

• The Material World

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/thematerialworld_20030501.shtml
  BBC Radio 4 interview on the methodology of archaeoastronomy with Prof. Clive Ruggles and Dr. Frank Prendergast. Requires Real Player.

• Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) Phase IV

  http://www.astrofilitrentini.it/mat/puerta/
  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.

• Traditions of the Sun: Chaco Culture National Historical Park

  http://www.traditionsofthesun.org/
  Features a collaborative project between SECEF, Ideum, the NPS, other organizations, and individuals. Contains an overview, photos, a timeline, news, credits, and contact information.

• University of Massachusetts Sunwheel

  http://www.umass.edu/sunwheel/index2.html
  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.

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