Ancient Observatories -- Timeless Knowledge For an expanded pdf of this site: Ancient Observatories For a resource guide to the astronomy of many cultures, see: Unheard Voices Featured Site Bighorn Medicine Wheel  Medicine Wheel Activities for you to do: Activities Explore this and other Medicine Wheels: Medicine Wheels Other Ancient Observatories & Sites Eastern Hemisphere Western Hemisphere Astronomer Unearths Evidence of Scientific Tradition in Africa -- An article about Thebe Medupe, an ethno- and archeoastronomer and researcher at the South African Astronomical Observatory who has been exploring traditional African peoples' knowledge of astronomy. In his documentary film, Cosmic Africa, Medupe visits remote communities to learn about the form and significance that astronomy takes in their cultures. Newgrange -- world's oldest astronomically-oriented structure! Stonehenge -- ancient astronomical site Astronomy in Ancient India Astronomy in Ancient Egypt See also El Kernak Abu Simbel Nabta Playa -- An African Stonehenge Gaocheng -- Chinese observatory for the Emperor Angkor Wat -- Cambodian Temple Gotland Grooves Easter Island Traditions of the Sun -- A NASA web educational site exploring the desire shared by past civilizations and today's society to observe and study the Sun. Chaco Canyon -- An Exploratorium website that features the Chaco Canyon ancient site, in New Mexico, and its connections to cycles of the Sun and Moon. The Sundagger -- Anasazi (Native American) marker for solar and lunar cycles. Also check out the Solstice Project Medicine Wheels - Native American pointers to the Sun, Moon, and stars What are Medicine Wheels? Who Built Medicine Wheels, and When? Why Build Medicine Wheels? Aboriginal Star Knowledge -- how Native Americans observed the Sun and stars. Sunpath in the Stars -- how the Lakota Sioux tracked the Sun's movement against the stars. Machu Picchu and Ancient Observatories -- Machu Picchu Aztec "Sun Stone" or Calendar How the Maya Observed the Sun To learn more about archaeoastronomy, visit The Center for Archaeoastronomy (University of Maryland) Image Credits: Bighorn Medicine Wheel photo by the U.S. Forest Service Bighorn district office, probably taken in the late 1970s. Newgrange image from knowth.com website. Machu Picchu image by Jeff Gilbert, from NASA's Ancient Observatories website. ©2008-2023 by Stanford SOLAR Center | Permitted Uses | Credits