Astronomical complex

Anastronomical complexorcommemorative astronomical complexis a series of man-made structures with anastronomicalpurpose. It has been used when referring to a group ofMegalithicstructures that it is claimed show high precision astronomical alignments.^[1]^[2]For the study ofArchaeoastronomy,such complexes of similar structures are required for adequate measurement and calculation to ensure that similar celestial sightlines were intended by the designers. These arrangements have also been known as observational,ceremonialorritualcomplexes with importance for the study of prehistoric cultures.

The term has been used in the naming of various series ofobservatoriesused for observing the stars in modern times.^[3]^[4]

Ancient astronomical complexes

Examples of suggested ancient astronomical complexes that may have been used assolarandlunar observatoriesinclude, in reverse-chronological order:

Mesoamerica

The E-group ruins of a plaza with three temples and two viewing platforms atUaxactún,near thePetén Basin,Guatemala,accredited to theMayan civilizationreferred to as aComplejo Conmemorativo Astronomico.^[5]

Western Europe

It has been suggested that the grouping ofstone circlesand ridge-topcairnsonBodmin MoorinCornwallcompose a ritual or astronomical complex.^[6]
StonehengeonSalisbury PlaininWiltshire,United Kingdom.^[7]
TheCallanishComplex of megaliths in theHebridesislands.^[8]^[9]
The series of recumbentstone circlesinAberdeenshirein the North East ofScotland,includingBalquhainstone circle and the cupmarked stone on its west flank.
Wandlebury Hill,Portingbury Warren Mound inPortingbury Hillsand a series of 11 marker stones including theLeper StoneinCambridgeshireandEssexinEngland,also known as theWandlebury EnigmaorThe Wandlebury-Hatfield Heath Astronomical Complex.^[10]

Central Europe

Goseck circleand otherNeolithic circular enclosures in Central Europe

Levant

In 2006, thenAtlit Yamwas discovered in Israel in 2009, dated with certainty to at least 6300 BCE, at which point it was abandoned and submerged in the Mediterranean, but still being excavated and analyzed as of 2014. Atlit Yam has human skeletons ceremoniously buried, and is a small semi-circle of long, narrow uprighted stones etched withcup marks.
Rogem Hiri,40,000,000 kg of stone with a 'gate' or opening in the outer stone circle through which the sun rises on each Summer Solstice (with this 'gate' matching the Summer Solstice's sunrise even more accurately millennia ago), and a burial chamber in the center under two 5-tonne megaliths, a layer of circa 3,000 BCE exposed, with a surveyed but unexcavated, estimated 4,000 BCE, layer beneath.
Mnajdraand otherMegalithic Temples of Malta,circa 3100 BCE and younger.

Modern astronomical complexes

Examples of modern astronomical complexes ofstellarobservatories include:

TheLeoncito Astronomical Complexin theSan Juan ProvinceofArgentina.
TheUniversity of IdahoAstronomical Complex in theUnited States of America.^[11]
The research and observational centre at theInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias(IAC) and its observatories, theObservatorio del Roque de los Muchachos,onLa Palmaand theObservatorio del Teide,onTenerife.^[12]
The observatories of theCaltechAstronomy Department,California Institute of TechnologyinPasadena,California,United States of America.^[13]

References

^Juan Pedro Laporte(1993).Tikal y Uaxactún en el preclásico.UNAM. pp. 5, 9, 27, 37, 38, 72, 79, 81, 86 & 90.ISBN 978-968-36-2673-8.Retrieved13 March2011.
^Fialko, Vilma., Laporte, Juan Pedro., New Perspectives on Old Problems: Dynastic references for the Early Classic at Tikal. In Vision and Revision in Maya Studies, edited by F. Clancy and P. Harrison, pp. 33–66, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
^"National Parks and Reserves in Argentina: El Leoncito National Park".Ripio Turismo.Archivedfrom the original on 8 September 2006.Retrieved2006-09-06.
^"Public Outreach".Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-08-29.Retrieved2006-09-06.
^Prudence M. Rice (2004).Maya Political Science: Time, Astronomy, and the Cosmos.University of Texas Press. p. 87.ISBN 978-0-292-70569-2.
^University College; London. Institute of Archaeology (2000).Archaeology international.Institute of Archaeology, University College London.Retrieved22 April2011.
^Hawkins, Gerald., Stonehenge Decoded, Nature, 200, 306–308, 1963
^Hawkins, Gerald., Callanish, a Scottish Stonehenge, Science, 147, 127–130, 1965.
^D. C. Heggie (1982).Archaeoastronomy in the Old World.Cambridge University Press. p. 191.ISBN 978-0-521-24734-4.
^Hoppit, David (1978). "The Wandlebury Enigma Solved? – Line A Loxodrome".Sunday Telegraph Magazine, Issue 78, March 18th.
^Johnson, Mark, R., University of Idaho Astronomical Complex, Moscow, Idaho, 214 pages, University of Idaho, 1984
^Grothkopf, Uta., Astronomical Society of the Pacific conference serie, Volume 153, p. 3, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 1998.
^Henry Robinson Luce, Time, Volume 87, Issues 1–12, p. 84, Time Inc., 1966.

Burl, Aubrey., Prehistoric Astronomy and Ritual, Shire Archaeology, 2010^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[Laporte1993-1] Juan Pedro Laporte(1993).Tikal y Uaxactún en el preclásico.UNAM. pp. 5, 9, 27, 37, 38, 72, 79, 81, 86 & 90.ISBN 978-968-36-2673-8.Retrieved13 March2011.

[2] Fialko, Vilma., Laporte, Juan Pedro., New Perspectives on Old Problems: Dynastic references for the Early Classic at Tikal. In Vision and Revision in Maya Studies, edited by F. Clancy and P. Harrison, pp. 33–66, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

[3] "National Parks and Reserves in Argentina: El Leoncito National Park".Ripio Turismo.Archivedfrom the original on 8 September 2006.Retrieved2006-09-06.

[4] "Public Outreach".Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-08-29.Retrieved2006-09-06.

[5] Prudence M. Rice (2004).Maya Political Science: Time, Astronomy, and the Cosmos.University of Texas Press. p. 87.ISBN 978-0-292-70569-2.

[CollegeArchaeology2000-6] University College; London. Institute of Archaeology (2000).Archaeology international.Institute of Archaeology, University College London.Retrieved22 April2011.

[7] Hawkins, Gerald., Stonehenge Decoded, Nature, 200, 306–308, 1963

[8] Hawkins, Gerald., Callanish, a Scottish Stonehenge, Science, 147, 127–130, 1965.

[9] D. C. Heggie (1982).Archaeoastronomy in the Old World.Cambridge University Press. p. 191.ISBN 978-0-521-24734-4.

[Hoppit1978-10] Hoppit, David (1978). "The Wandlebury Enigma Solved? – Line A Loxodrome".Sunday Telegraph Magazine, Issue 78, March 18th.

[11] Johnson, Mark, R., University of Idaho Astronomical Complex, Moscow, Idaho, 214 pages, University of Idaho, 1984

[12] Grothkopf, Uta., Astronomical Society of the Pacific conference serie, Volume 153, p. 3, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 1998.

[13] Henry Robinson Luce, Time, Volume 87, Issues 1–12, p. 84, Time Inc., 1966.

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