archaeocosmology. part one: archaeography and maeshowe

Archaeocosmology

Victor Reijs

victor.reijs@gmail.com

October 5th, 2013

Plarnel, Brittany

Who am I...

In 1996, I started with Scottish monuments (incl. Maeshowe, Orkney)

Measured azimuth of the Dutch and German passage graves Using the Moon, I simulated the Sun of 5000 years ago inside

Newgrange, Ireland Observed/broadcasted the winter solstice at Maeshowe Observed/broadcasted the 2006 major standstill limit at

Calanais, Lewis, Scotland Equinox observations at Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae, Greece Measured azimuths of Minoan graves, Crete I am a numbers and observational person; and I like the

scientific approach I am learning the magical, mystical; and artistic ways of live

Content

Archaeography... The visualization of astronomy at

Maeshowe... Equinox at Treasury of Atreus...

Archaeography

Formulated by Tom Graves and Liz Poray-Wilczynska

A method to get a feel for the Spirit of Place Allowing subjective responses to the past Experiencing it in the Place Interaction of Place, time and mind.

Archaeography

Allow both mechanical/scientific and aesthetic experiences

Look at experiences in different ways: Value and/or Truth Outer/Objective and/or Inner/Subjective

This gives four roles...

The four roles

Artist

ArtistSensing/feeling

ArtistSensing/feeling

Mystic

MysticBelonging/belief

MysticBelonging/belief

Scientist

ScientistAnalysis/fact

GPS measurements of Erdeven

ScientistAnalysis/fact

Archaeological dig

Magician

MagicianApplication/use

Was it used for: maps?... geometry (3:4:5)?... predicting eclipses?... knowing the seasons?... learning what was in the

minds?...

MagicianApplication/use

Cover up the former site

Be on the highest point

What time does?

We don’t know if our present day thinking was true and/or valued by former people.

Each epoch has its own truths/values In Neolithic times the same roles existed,

but they might be totally different. Even closely related cultures don’t have to

have the same truths/values. They can, but it is not law!

Restriction reduces the wealth of possibilities/ideas

Keep in mind the four roles

Content

Archaeography... The visualization of astronomy at

Maeshowe... Equinox at Treasury of Atreus...

Maeshowe

Ward Hill and Cuilags

Orkney Scotland

Maeshowe a neolithic cairn

Build around 2800 BCE A virtual world of landscape, sun and

monument was made:first using spreadsheet and later 3D world

This led to re-discovery of reappearing light in chamber

Setting sun

Ward Hill and Cuilags

Back wall

25

Reappearing sun light~23 days before/after winter solstice day

Ward Hill and Cuilags

Back wall

Astronomy aware 3D world

3D landscape (Neolithic) monuments Movements of the Moon and the Sun

aim: from 3000 BCE until now Web accessible: using VRML Unique in its kind

Ring of Brodgar, Watchstone, Standing stones of Stenness, Maeshowe, Barnhouse Stone, etc.

3D landscape around MaeshoweNov. 29th, 2000

Reappearing sun light~45 days before/after winter solstice day

Sun set at CuilagsJan. 31st, 2001

Reappearing in MaeshoweDec. 1st, 1998

Roles used

Content

Archaeography... The visualization of astronomy at

Maeshowe... Equinox at Treasury of Atreus...

<go to http://www.slideshare.net/vreijs1/carnac-second03 >