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 Virtual Tour For an exploration of this and additional Medicine Wheels, see: 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. For more information about the film, contact Carina Rubin 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 -- An experiential web site that lets you explore Chaco Canyon, learning about NASA research on the Sun and Native American solar practices within a larger historical and cultural context. 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 and The Bighorn Medicine Wheel -- Native American pointer to sun and stars 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 Haleakala -- "path to the calling the sun" Ancient Mysteries -- Future Discoveries (NASA's 2011 Sun-Earth Day Site) Ancient Observatories -- Timeless Knowledge (NASA's 2005 Sun-Earth Day Site) 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 by Stanford SOLAR Center | Permitted Uses | Credits