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The Great British Archaeoastronomical Megalithic Structure Myth

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In 1637 AD, John Greaves, the English mathematician, astronomer, antiquarian and professor of geometry at Gresham College in London, England, measured and studied famous ancient monuments in Italy and Egypt including the Great Pyramid. This pre-archaeological investigation project sparked great interest in ancient metrology and the alignments and orientations of ancient cultures, and this new line of research would later be expanded by Isaac Newton and the French Academy.

John Greaves (1602 –1652) was an English mathematician, astronomer and antiquarian. (1650) (Public Domain)

John Greaves (1602 –1652) was an English mathematician, astronomer and antiquarian. (1650) (Public Domain)

From these early quests in search of important prime measurements and alignments embedded in the structures of ancient monuments, came the modern science of archaeoastronomy, which looks for astronomical significance in megalithic stone sites and medieval architecture. Over the last three decades archaeoastronomy, which connects ancient sites with astronomy, has convinced the general public with a passing interest in archaeology and history that ‘all’ ancient monuments were oriented according to occurrences in the sky. However, something else influenced the ancient engineers, something much more down to earth.

Are All Circles On The Land Aligned With The Sky?

It is commonly written that Neolithic (4000-2500 BC) people in Britain spent a lot of time attempting to record the apparent movement of the sun, moon and stars, and that they erected huge stone monuments enshrining this astronomical knowledge. This is of little wonder with more than 1,300 stone circles in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany, and while the original purpose of these monuments is still cloaked in mystery, most archaeologists agree that they were used for astro-religious rituals. This theory results from the modern study of archaeoastronomy, the modern scientific discipline that proposes connections between crumbling stone circles, stone rows, burial monuments and the constellations.

For archaeologist Aubrey Burl, the Swinside stone circle in England’s Lake District, is ‘the loveliest of all the circles in north-western Europe’. (CC BY-SA 2.5)

For archaeologist Aubrey Burl, the Swinside stone circle in England’s Lake District, is ‘the loveliest of all the circles in north-western Europe’. (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Archaeoastronomy, as a scientific discipline, was born after the English scientist and astronomer, Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer, teamed up with the French scientist Pierre Janssen in the late 19th century. The former was the founder and first editor of the influential journal Nature and he also helped the latter to discover helium gas, however, Lockyer is perhaps most famous for his work at Stonehenge where he derived several underlying astronomical alignments. According to The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (SCRAF), ‘ Lockyer sought to extend his astronomical observations to the avenues and circles of Calanais, Isle of Lewis, and the recumbent stone circles’.

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Ashley Cowie is a Scottish historian, author and documentary filmmaker presenting original perspectives on historical problems, in accessible and exciting ways. His books, articles and television shows explore lost cultures and kingdoms, ancient crafts and artifacts, symbols and architecture, myths and legends telling thought-provoking stories which together offer insights into our shared social history.  www.ashleycowie.com.

Top Image: Callanish Stones (spanishjohnny72 / Adobe Stock)

By: Ashley Cowie

 
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Ashley

Ashley is a Scottish historian, author, and documentary filmmaker presenting original perspectives on historical problems in accessible and exciting ways.

He was raised in Wick, a small fishing village in the county of Caithness on the north east coast of... Read More

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