Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy

1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4614-6142-5
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 2297 Seiten, Book + Online Access, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm

How human communities interpret what they perceive in the sky is vital in fulfilling humankind’s most basic need to comprehend the universe it inhabits, both from a modern scientific perspective and from countless other cultural standpoints, extending right back to early prehistory. Archaeoastronomy, which is concerned with cultural perceptions and understandings of astronomical phenomena, is a rich cross-disciplinary field.

The central aim of “Handbook of Archaeoastronomy” is to provide a reliable source for theory, method, interpretation and best practices that will give a definitive picture of the state of the art research in this field for serious scholars regardless of the discipline(s) in which they are qualified. It will be equally suitable for those already contributing to the field and those interested in entering it. Also included are studies in ethnoastronomy, which is concerned with contemporary practices related to astronomy, particularly among modern indigenous societies.

A major part of this MRW is comprised of a set of wide-ranging archaeoastronomical case studies both geographically and through time, stretching right back to Palaeolithic days, and also in terms of the types of human society and nature of their astronomical ideas and practices. However, these are chosen in order to best illuminate broader issues and themes, rather than to attempt, for example, to provide systematic coverage of recent ‘discoveries.’

Thematic articles cover general themes such as cosmologies, calendars, navigation, orientations and alignments, and ancient perceptions of space and time. They also highlight various aspects of the social context of astronomy (its relationship to social power, warfare, etc) and how we interpret astronomical practices within the framework of conceptual approaches. There are also discussions of broad issues such as ethnocentrism, nationalism, and astronomical dating. The “methods and practices” articles cover topics from field methodology and survey procedures to social theory, as well as providing broad definitions and explanations of key concepts. We are also including a number of “disciplinary perspectives” on approaches to archaeoastronomy written by leading figures in the constituent fields. These articles cover material that, generally speaking, would be familiar to graduates in the relevant discipline but, critically, not so to those with different backgrounds.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ruggles, Clive L.N.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Geschichte der Astronomie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Concepts of Space, Time, and the Cosmos.- Calendars and Astronomy.- Astronomy and Chronology - Babylonia, Assyria, and Egypt.- Astronomy and Navigation.- Astronomy and Power.- Astronomy and Politics.- Astrology as Cultural Astronomy.- Astronomy, Astrology, and Medicine.- Ancient “Observatories” - A Relevant Concept?.-Origins of the “Western” Constellations.-Astronomy in the Service of Christianity.- Astronomy in the Service of Islam.- Interactions Between “Indigenous” and “Colonial” Astronomies: Adaptation of Indigenous Astronomies in the Modern World.- Development of Archaeoastronomy in the English-Speaking World.- Disciplinary Perspectives on Archaeoastronomy.- Astronomy and Rock Art Studies.- Presentation of Archaeoastronomy in Introductions to Archaeology.- Archaeoastronomical Concepts in Popular Culture.- Astrotourism and Archaeoastronomy.- Archaeoastronomical Heritage and the World Heritage Convention.- Cultural Interpretation of Archaeological Evidence Relating to Astronomy.- Cultural Interpretation of Historical Evidence Relating to Astronomy.- Cultural Interpretation of Ethnographic Evidence Relating to Astronomy.- Nature and Analysis of Material Evidence Relevant to Archaeoastronomy.- Best Practice for Evaluating the Astronomical Significance of Archaeological Sites.- Techniques of Field Survey.- Analyzing Orientations.- Analyzing Light-and-Shadow Interactions.- Visualization Tools and Techniques.- Basic Concepts of Positional Astronomy.- Long-Term Changes in the Appearance of the Sky.- Solar Alignments - Identification and Analysis.- Lunar Alignments - Identification and Analysis.- Alignments upon Venus (and Other Planets) – Identification and Analysis.- Stellar Alignments - Identification and Analysis.- Inuit Astronomy.- Medicine Wheels of the Great Plains.- Hohokam Archaeoastronomy.- Mesa Verde Archaeoastronomy.- Great Houses and the Sun - Astronomy of Canyon.- Rock Art of the Greater Southwest.- Hopi and Anasazi Alignments and Rock Art.- Sun-Dagger Sites.- Dine´ (Navajo) Ethno- and Archaeoastron

Über Autor(innen)

Dr. Clive Ruggles is currently an Emeritus Professor of Archaeoastronomy at the School of Archaeology and Ancient History, the University of Leicester.