Unit 1: Ancient Skywatching of the Sun

What does ‘archaeoastronomy’ mean?

ancient site & artifact & sky pattern connection study

What does ‘prehistoric’ mean?

prewriting system

Where does prehistory begin?

≳ 5000 years

What does ‘retrograde motion’ mean?

move in normal direction → move in reverse direction → move in normal direction

How many visible planets are there?

5

Which planets are visible?

• Mercury

• Venus

• Mars

• Jupiter

• Saturn

Where does the sun rise on an equinox?

exactly east

Where does the sun set on an equinox?

exactly west

What is the shortest day of the year?

winter solstice

Why is the shortest day of the year the shortest day of the year?

Sun spends least time over horizon

What is the longest day of the year?

summer solstice

Why is the longest day of the year the longest day of the year?

Sun spends most time over horizon

What does ‘alignment site’ mean?

manmade place aligning with sky pattern

What does ‘basin stone’ mean?

large plate stone

What is a basin stone’s purpose?

held remains honouring people

What does ‘Triskele’ mean?

Celtic life → death → rebirth symbol

Where is Newgrange?

Ireland east coast

When was Newgrange built?

~3200 BCE

How long did it take to build Newgrange?

5-35 years

What is Newgrange’s diameter?

85m

What is Newgrange’s height?

13m

How many Kerbstones are there around Newgrange?

97

Which Kerbstone is the Entrance Stone?

K1

What is the Entrance Stone’s diameter?

3m

What is the Entrance' Stone’s height?

1.2m

What comprises the Newgrange passageway?

3 alcoves

What is the Newgrange passageway length?

19m

What physical factors enforce Newgrange’s astronomical connection?

• roofbox position

• passageway curve

What do the physical factors do to enforce Newgrange’s astronomical connection?

allow light to get to back alcove

When does Newgrange’s astronomical connection happen?

winter solstice sunrise

What is the time length of Newgrange’s astronomical connection?

17 minutes

What is illuminated in Newgrange’s passageway during its astronomical alignment?

Triskele

What stone is illuminated in Newgrange’s passageway during its astronomical alignment?

K10

Which Kerbstone has stars?

K52

What stars are on the Kerbstone?

• Sirius

• Orion’s belt constellation

What is the Newgrange and winter solstice connection?

represents rebirth & guarding Sun power

• after Sun’s at lowest point, Sun climbs higher

  • restarts year, longer & warmer day = Sun reincarnation

    • allows remains to be seen on rebirth day = rebirth

What are Newgrange’s exterior physical features?

• alternate earth & stone wall

• grass roof

• studded white quartz & cobble

What is Newgrange’s coverage?

4500m²

What direction does the entrance point?

southeast

What are Newgrange’s interior physical features?

• high corbelled vault roof for central chamber

• 3 alcoves have basin stone

• standing stone circle (Bronze Age)

How many Kerbstones comprise the passageway wall?

• 22 on west

• 21 east

What are some examples of Megalithic art on Newgrange?

• circle

• spiral

• arc

• chevron

• lozenge

• radial

What was most Kerbstones’ construction method?

carved art → erected up

Which Kerbstone does not follow most Kerbstones’ construction method?

Entrance Stone

What is the Entrance Stone’s weight?

5 tons

What are the main Newgrange art theories?

• decorative

v.s.

• symbolic

What did George Coffey believe about Newgrange art?

• decorative

What did Michael J. O’Kelly believe about Newgrange art?

• symbolic

  • BECAUSE invisible carvings

    • e.g. orthostatic slab

What was the main material used in Newgrange construction?

greywacke stone

What was the Newgrange construction materials’ location?

Clogerhead, Co Louth

• up River Boyne

  • 20 kilometres northeast

What was the Newgrange construction material transport method?

sea

• secure to boat underside

When were Newgrange construction materials transported?

low tide

What are the main Newgrange construction time theories?

• 5 years

v.s.

• 30+ years

What did Frank Mitchell believe about Newgrange’s construction time?

• 5 years

  • Neolithic locals devoted to building > farming

What did Michael J. O’Kelly believe about Newgrange’s construction time?

• 30+ years

What was the structure slab’s acquisition method?

collected

What was the Kerbstone’s acquisition method?

quarried

• total weight: 200,000 tones

• location: river terrace & pond

What are some examples of Newgrange grave goods?

• marble

• pendant

• bead

• flint flake

• bone chisel & pin & point

What is Michael J. O’Kelly’s theory for Newgrange’s purpose?

religion

• cult of dead related to Knowth and Dowth

Who discovers Newgrange’s astronomical connection at what date?

Michael J. O’Kelly

12/21/1967

When does light enter Newgrange on the winter solstice now?

4 minutes after sunrise

What is the Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon’s location?

northwest Albuquerque, New Mexico (Anasazi territory)

Who built the Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon?

native Ancestral Puebloans

What is Pueblo Bonito’s construction date?

850 CE - 1150 CE

What was Pueblo Bonito’s original purpose?

city centreW

What is Pueblo Bonito’s location?

Chaco Canyon upper end

What is Fajada Butte?

hill with steep vertical wall & flat top

What is Fajada Butte’s height?

135 metres

What is a special physical feature of Fajada Butte?

terraformed ramp

• length: 230 metres

• height: 95 metres

What is Fajada Butte’s distance from Pueblo Bonito?

6 kilometres

What are the 3 Slab Site’s physical dimensions?

• height: 2 metres - 3 metres

• width: 0.7 metres - 1 metre

• thickness: 0.2 metres - 0.5 metres

• weight: 2000 kilograms

What is the 3 Slab Site’s location?

top of Fajada Butte, leaned on summit

What did Anna Sofaer find in the 1970s?

2 petroglyphs

At what time of the day does the sun dagger appear?

12 PM

What happens on the summer solstice on the Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon?

• 1 sun dagger perfectly splits larger petroglyph

What happens on the winter solstice on the Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon?

• 2 sun daggers perfectly frame larger petroglyph

What happens on an equinox on the Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon?

• 1 sun dagger splits larger petroglyph off-centre

• 1 sun dagger perfectly splits smaller petroglyph

What are the Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon’s purpose?

• shrine marking sun cycle

How long do the Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon appear on the summer solstice?

18 minutes

How long do the Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon appear on the winter solstice?

49 minutes

What happened to the 3 Slab Site in 1989?

shifted slabs

What is Stonehenge’s location?

south England

• near Salisbury

What is Stonehenge’s construction time?

1500 years

What is the number of Stonehenge’s construction stages?

4

What is the first Stonehenge’s construction stage start date?

3100 B.C.E.

What comprises the first Stonehenge’s construction stage?

• ditch

• hole

What is the number of Stonehenge’s openings?

2

What directions do Stonehenge’s openings point towards?

• northeast

• south

What is the number of holes dug during Stonehenge’s first construction stage?

56

What is Stonehenge’s second construction stage time period?

200 - 300 years

What comprises Stonehenge’s second construction stage?

• wood post

What is Stonehenge’s third construction stage start date?

2200 B.C.E.

What comprises Stonehenge’s third construction stage?

• stones

What is Stonehenge’s last construction stage start date?

1600 B.C.E.

What comprises Stonehenge’s last construction stage?

• Heel Stone

• hole

• Bluestone

• Sarsen Stone

What is the Heel Stone’s location on Stonehenge?

northeast

What is the Heel Stone’s astronomical connection?

from altar stone, Sun rises behind

What is the date and time of the Heel Stone’s astronomical connection?

summer solstice sunrise

What is the Heel Stone’s astronomical purpose?

homage on strongest Sun day

• Sun god

• warmth

• crop growth

• time renewal

What is Stonehenge’s original purpose?

predict eclipse & moon cycle