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Archeoastronomy

Archeoastronomy. The study of the astronomical practices, celestial lore, mythologies, religions and world-views of all ancient cultures. Early Astronomy. Why People Began to Watch the Sky Time Navigation Religion Entertainment 2000B.C.

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Archeoastronomy

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  1. Archeoastronomy The study of the astronomical practices, celestial lore, mythologies, religions and world-views of all ancient cultures.

  2. Early Astronomy • Why People Began to Watch the Sky • Time • Navigation • Religion • Entertainment • 2000B.C. • First constellations recorded by Sumerians is first written astronomy-but astronomy is still older

  3. Astronomy Timeline • 3500B.C.-Construction of Stonehenge I begins. • 2500B.C.-Pyramids in Egypt. • 2300B.C.-Megaliths appear at Stonehenge • 1400B.C.-Chinese record solar eclipse • 500B.C.-Babylonian astronomy reaches highest point • 300B.C.-Greek astronomy reaches its height • Eratosthenes determines size of the earth • 135B.C.-Hipparchus develops first star catalog and measures star brightness

  4. Astronomy Timeline Continued • 100B.C.-Chinese astronomers estimate size of the round earth and moon • 28B.C.- Chinese record sunspots • 200A.D.-Teotihuacan Empire reaches its height • 250A.D.-Rise of Mayans, 300A.D.-Nazca Culture in Peru • 500A.D.-Rise of Anasazi in American Southwest • 820A.D.-Muslim astronomy begins

  5. Astronomy Timeline Continued • 900A.D.-End of Mayan period/Begin Mississippian culture • 920A.D.-Building of Uxmal in Yucatan • 940A.D.-Oldest Chinese star map • 1000A.D.-Caracol at Chichen Itza constructed • 1100A.D.-Decline and disappearance of Anasazi • 1200A.D.-Rise of Inca • 1300A.D.-Aztec Civilization Rises/Height of Cahokia

  6. Stonehenge • Built 2800-1800 B.C. • It’s the oldest timepiece in existence • Designed for astronomical observation • It’s a monument in S. England • Helps in predicting eclipses & cycles of • moon • Aligns at the solstices

  7. Map of Stonehenge

  8. Stonehenge Astronomy

  9. Egyptian Pyramidal Astronomy • Astronomy used for positioning of the pyramids • Vents & passageways align with specific stars • Pyramids are slightly off • Divide the sky into constellations • These are known as star clocks • “Diagonal calendars” • Calendars – 3 seasons

  10. Pyramid of Giza

  11. The Teotihuacan • Population over 200,000 people • Around Mexico city • Largest city in ancient world • 650 A.D. – great fire swept the city • Calendar with moon phases • 2 important pyramids – sun & moon • Pyramids are flat topped

  12. Teotihuacan Pyramid

  13. The Maya • Believed that Earth was flat with 4 corners • Portrayed ecliptic in art work • Concluded year was slightly more than 365 days (Evidence of a calendar system) • Observed Venus & Mercury when visible (observatories) • Math – they created the number 0 • Also created a writing system (hieroglyphics) • Civilization found in Mexico

  14. Mayan Architecture Caracol

  15. The Nazca • Built lines for aliens 300 A.D. • Located in Peru • Nazca lines that they created are known as “geoglyphs” • Since these lines are on a flat surface and its climate is extremely dry, nearly all geoglyphs remain completely intact. • Appeared 500 B.C.

  16. Nazca Geoglyphs

  17. The Anasazi • 2,000 years ago • Known for their agriculture • Found supernova in 1054 in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico • Located North Pole using trellis twigs • Forecast weather by insect activity & wind direction

  18. Anasazi Architecture

  19. The Inca • Interest in dark space between stars • Observed sun in small caves – built with windows that centered around winter solstice • 1200 A.D. • Built their cities high in the moutains (Machu Picchu)

  20. Incan Architecture

  21. Incan Architecture

  22. The Aztecs • 1300 A.D. • Observes of nature & all its cycles, stars, seasons • Counting systems based on #20 • Pyramids aligned with solar system • 2 calendars – religion & time • Created a writing system • Created a sun stone calendar • Mapped out the sky

  23. Aztec Architecture

  24. Archeoastronomy in Illinois • 1000 A.D. woodhenge in Illinois – allows us to tell time • Used woodhenge for harvest • This was an ancient calendar built in the Mississippian landscape

  25. Map of Cahokia

  26. Monk’s Mound

  27. Woodhenge • Amesbury, England • Many made through out the world • “Wooden Stonehenge” • Central sun – watching station • Sun aligned with poles at solstices, equinoxes, and other important dates • Religious

  28. Woodhenge

  29. The End

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