1,803 research outputs found
Ancient astronomical instrument from Srubna burial of kurgan field Tavriya-1 (Northern Black Sea Coast)
The article presents the results of analysis of the spatial arrangement of
the wells on the unique slab from Srubna burial of kurgan field Tavriya-1
(Rostov region, Russia) by astronomical methods. At the slab revealed two
interrelated groups of wells, one of which - in the form of a circle, is
proposed to interpret how analemmatic sundial, and second group, consisting of
disparate wells, as auxiliary astronomical markers of rising luminaries
directions, to correct the position of the gnomon. Simultaneous location of
both groups of wells on the same slab is a possible indication of one of the
stages of development of the design features analemmatic sundial - setting
movable gnomon and technology of measuring time with it. It may point to local
origin, as the very idea of analemmatic sundial as well technology measurement
of time with them. The article also describes the model analemmatic sundial,
hour marks which in many cases coincide with the wells arranged in a circle,
particularly in a working range from 6 to 18 hours. In the study proposed a
method which can identify moments of solstices and equinoxes in ancient times
with the help of the gnomon of analemmatic sundial and mobile gnomons,
installed in wells belonging to the second group. The opportunity of use
analemmatic sundial as moondial in a full moon night. Slab with two groups of
wells is proposed to consider, as the oldest astronomical instrument discovered
in the Northern Black Sea coast, which allowed to observe the apparent motion
of the Sun and the Moon and allowed measure the time during the day, using
analemmatic sundial and at night during the full Moon - with the help of
moondial. Keywords: analemmatic sundial, moondial, srubna burial, slab, wells,
cupped depressions, gnomon, model, technology, astronomical methods,
archaeoastronomy.Comment: Published version of the articl
The astronomical orientation of the urban plan of Alexandria
Alexander the Great founded Alexandria in 331 BC. The newly founded town was
conceived as an orthogonal grid based on a main longitudinal axis, later called
Canopic Road. We analyse here the astronomical orientation of the project and
propose that the main axis was deliberately oriented towards the rising sun on
the day of birth of Alexander the Great. The argument is admittedly speculative
as any Archaeoastronomy argument not backed up by written sources. However, it
is nested accurately into the archaeological records and into what is known on
the foundation of the town. Further, a topographical analysis is given to
sustain the thesis.Comment: Archaeoastronomy/History of Astronom
Identifying seasonal stars in Kaurna astronomical traditions
Early ethnographers and missionaries recorded Aboriginal languages and oral
traditions across Australia. Their general lack of astronomical training
resulted in misidentifications, transcription errors, and omissions in these
records. Additionally, many of these early records are fragmented. In western
Victoria and southeast South Australia, many astronomical traditions were
recorded, but curiously, some of the brightest stars in the sky were omitted.
Scholars claimed these stars did not feature in Aboriginal traditions. This
under-representation continues to be repeated in the literature, but current
research shows that some of these stars may in fact feature in Aboriginal
traditions and could be seasonal calendar markers. This paper uses established
techniques in cultural astronomy to identify seasonal stars in the traditions
of the Kaurna Aboriginal people of the Adelaide Plains, South Australia.Comment: Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, Vol. 18(1), Preprin
Archaeoastronomy in the Khmer heartland
The heartland of the Khmer empire is literally crowded by magnificent
monuments built in the course of many centuries. These monuments include the
world-famous state-temples, such as Angkor Wat, but also many other temples and
huge water reservoirs. Using Google Earth data as well as GIS data and
reconstructing the ancient sky with Stellarium, we investigate here on the
relationships of astronomy with orientation and topography in a systematic
fashion, following the methods of modern Archaeoastronomy and strictly keeping
at a bay vague or esoteric proposals put forward by many authors in the past.
As a result, a very clear pattern of cardinal orientation and alignment arises,
connected with the temple's symbolism and the management of power by the Khmer
kings. As a bonus, the comparison with the Angkor monuments allows to put
forward a explanation for the anomalous orientation of the unique two
peripheral state temples of Cambodia.Comment: Archaeoastronomy/History of Astronom
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