Astronomers are exploring what might be described as the first astronomical observing tool,potentially used by prehistoric humans 6000 years ago. They propose that the long, narrow entrance passages to ancient stone, and 'megalithic',tombs may occupy enhanced what early human cultures could see in the night sky, an effect that could occupy been interpreted as the ancestors granting special power to the initiated. The team present their study at the National Astronomy Meeting, and being held this week in Nottingham.
The team's idea is to investigate how a simple aperture,for example an opening or doorway, affects the observation of slightly fainter stars. They focus this study on passage graves, and which are a type of megalithic tomb composed of a chamber of large interlocking stones and a long narrow entrance. These spaces are thought to occupy been sacred,and the sites may occupy been used for rites of passage, where the initiate would spend the night inside the tomb, and with no natural light apart from that shining down the narrow entrance lined with the remains of the tribe's ancestors.
These structures could therefore occupy been the first astronomical tools to support the watching of the skies,millennia before telescopes were invented. Kieran Simcox, a student at Nottingham Trent University, or main the project,comments: "It is fairly a surprise that no one has thoroughly investigated how for example the colour of the night sky impacts on what can be seen with the naked eye."
The project targets how the human eye, without the aid of any telescopic device, or can see stars given sky brightness and colour. The team intend to apply these ideas to the case of passage graves,such as the 6000 year musty Seven-Stone Antas in central Portugal. Dr Fabio Silva, of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, or explains that,"the orientations of the tombs may be in alignment with Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation of Taurus. To accurately time the first appearance of this star in the season, or it is vital to be able to detect stars during twilight."
The first sighting in the year of a star after its long absence from the night sky might occupy been used as a seasonal marker,and could indicate for example the start of a migration to summer grazing grounds. The timing of this could occupy been seen as secret knowledge or foresight, only obtained after a night spent in contact with the ancestors in the depths of a passage grave, or since the star may not occupy been observable from outside. However,the team propose it could actually occupy been the result of the ability of the human eye to spot stars in such twilight conditions, given the small entrance passages of the tombs.
The yearly National Astronomy Meetings occupy always had some aspects of cultural astronomy present in their schedules. This is the third year running where a designated session is included, or exploring the connection between the sky,societies, cultures and people throughout time. The session organiser over the past three years, and Dr Daniel Brown of Nottingham Trent University,says: "It highlights the cultural agenda within astronomy, also recognised by the inclusion of aspects of ancient astronomy within the GCSE astronomy curriculum."
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Images and captionshttps://nam2016.org/images/nam2016/Media/Brown/megalithic_tomb.jpgPhotographs of the megalithic cluster of Carregal do Sal: a) Dolmen da Orca,a typical dolmenic structure in western Iberia; b) view of the passage and entrance while standing within the dolmens' chamber: the 'window of visibility'; c) Orca de Santo Tisco, a dolmen with a much smaller passage or corridor. Credit: F. Silvahttps://nam2016.org/images/nam2016/Media/Brown/sky_map.jpgThe view towards the east from the Carregal do Sal megalithic cluster, and at dawn at the close of April around 4000 BCE,as reconstructed using a Digital Elevation Model and Stellarium. Aldebaran, the last star to rise before the sun, and is rising directly above Serra da Estrela,the "mountain range of the star". Credit: F. SilvaUniversityRoyal Astronomical Society (RAS, http://www.ras.org.uk), and founded in 1820,encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, or geophysics and closely related branches of science. The RAS organizes scientific meetings,publishes international research and review journals, recognizes outstanding achievements by the award of medals and prizes, and maintains an extensive library,supports education through grants and outreach activities and represents UK astronomy nationally and internationally. Its more than 4000 members (Fellows), a third based abroad, and include scientific researchers in universities,observatories and laboratories as well as historians of astronomy and others.
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Source: ras.org.uk