Open Directory - Science: Social Sciences: Archaeology: Topics: Archaeoastronomy
See also: This category in other languages: - Article rebutting Kate Spence's theory that the pyramids were aligned to north by using the simultaneous transit of two circumpolar stars. - Archaeoastronomy Lecture notes and photographs from Leicester University. - An article on the Borana Calendar by Laurance Doyle of the SETI Institute. - Article by Kate Spence contending that the Egyptians aligned the pyramids to north by using the simultaneous transit of two circumpolar stars. [PDF] - The Exploratorium's multimedia website on the site of Chaco Canyon. Includes a webcast from the Winter Solstice 2004. - Study of rupestral engravings in Italy. - Well developed site featuring articles and photographs on a number of significant sites and their Archaeoastronomy - Introduction to Irish megalithic complexes; includes future astronomical sight times. - A comprehensive introduction to archaeoastronomy including a look at various people groups and case studies of sites. - Dr. Cornelius Holtorf ponders the relationship of Archaeoastronomy to the megaliths of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. - Interview with David Dearnorn, a specialist in Peruvian Astronomy. - Rajesh Mirchandani looks at the ancient cosmologies of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India. Requires Real Player. - Dr Kate Spence's theory of the cardinal alignment of Great Pyramid explained. - Astronomical analysis of petroglyphs on sandstone panels, Arizona. - Founded in 1978 at the University of Maryland to advance research, education and public awareness of archaeoastronomy. - Course notes for the Archaeoastronomy course at the University of Virginia, USA. - A multimedia introduction to archaeoastronomy and ethnoastronomy suitable for K-12 teachers and students. Part of the University of Chicago's Digital Library. - An article from "British Archaeology" magazine arguing for an astronomical motive for the building of some cursus monuments in prehistoric Britain. - Largely German description of the Bronze Age artefact umearthed in Saxony-Anhalt, with FAQs in English. - 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. - A detailed examination of M. Griaule's 1950 paper "Un Systeme Soudanais de Sirius". - 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. - 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. - Contact details for this international academic society. - A controversial discovery of a 16,000-year-old "map of the night sky" in Lascaux caves. BBC article. - Introduction to basic archaeoastronomical concepts with examples from across the world. - A variety of projects ranging from African Astronomy to Zodiac Mosaics. - Referenced article exploring this ancient Japanese kofun (burial mound). Astrological charts have been determined from the "star paintings" inside the tomb. - Well referenced article by Steven Mizrach upon astronomy as practiced by the Lakota. - Ligurian Archaeoastronomy, mainly in Italian but with some English and German translations. - An online book of the folkore in Lithuania surrounding the sun, moon and stars by Jonas Vaiðkûnas. - An introduction the to astronomical theories surrounding these Irish Neolithic Cairns. - Re-evaluation of the existence of the Megalithic Calendar proposed by Alexander Thom. - 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. - Observe video of light/shadow interplay on 1,000+ year old rock art marking equinox sunrise at a remote, newly discovered Colorado site. - 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. - British Egyptologist puts forward an astronomical theory for the northern alignment of the Great Pyramid at Giza. BBC article. - An interdisciplinary website dedicated to research, education and care of heritage in Astronomy in Culture. - Stone relics and monuments, of unknown age or origin, with possible Solstitial and/or Principle Term alignments. With photos. - Evidence of highly complex astronomy within Australian Aboriginal society. - 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. - 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. - The NASA site for Sun-Earth day 2005 (March 20). The theme is 'Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge'. Includes webcasts. - Determination of the orientation of ancient Khmer temples based on solar observations. Presents the data for several sites. - BBC Radio 4 interview on the methodology of archaeoastronomy with Prof. Clive Ruggles and Dr. Frank Prendergast. Requires Real Player. - This site makes extensive use of Quicktime to describe and demonstrate the workings of an Hohokam observatory. - The Centre for the Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology at Bath Spa University, UK - 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. - Features a collaborative project between SECEF, Ideum, the NPS, other organizations, and individuals. Contains an overview, photos, a timeline, news, credits, and contact information. - 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. - A news story on a solsticial alignment at a petroglyph site in Utah. (June 20, 2005) - An article on how a German "Stonehenge" may be the world's oldest observatory. (December 08, 2003) - Ancient stone circles and tombs in Ireland align with the Sun and the Moon, say astronomers. BBC Article (April 08, 2003) - A description of the Sky Disc of Nebra from The Cosmic Mirror #243 (October 05, 2002) - Report on the display of the Sky Disc of Nebra from The Cosmic Mirror #236. (April 19, 2002) - The BBC's science editor comes face to face with what is claimed to be the oldest map of the Moon ever made. (March 06, 2001) - A unique prehistoric tomb in Ireland has been revealed to align to both the midsummer Sun and the midwinter Moon. BBC article (April 08, 1999) - Discovery of a 6,500-year-old monument at Nabta, Egypt. BBC article. (April 01, 1998)
