{"title":"The Skyscape of Mount Murad, Armenia: A Possible Pastoral Calendar and Ritual Site","authors":"M. Frîncu","doi":"10.1558/JSA.37467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1558/JSA.37467","url":null,"abstract":"This article presents a complex site located at Mount Murad in Armenia, examining its possible astronomical significance in relation to summer pastoral activities. The site consists of a necropolis containing tumuli and recent graves, as well as a significant concentration of rock art, sheepfolds and an interesting circular enclosure with two strands of stone, three cairns and a stone arc attached to it. Facial features were identified on a carved rock in the circle, suggestive of ritual use. Much of Armenia's rich archaeological heritage is located high in the mountains and has not yet been properly investigated from an archaeological or archaeoastronomical perspective, and what literature there is on archaeoastronomy focuses on Qarahunj and rock art. This study aims to raise awareness of the significance of the Mount Murad site, which deserves proper archaeological investigation to determine the date and purpose of its numerous structures.","PeriodicalId":36192,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Skyscape Archaeology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1558/JSA.37467","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44632675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"“Harmony and Symmetry”. European Society for Astronomy in Culture (SEAC) 26, Graz 27th August–1st September 2018","authors":"G. Zotti","doi":"10.1558/JSA.38829","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1558/JSA.38829","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36192,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Skyscape Archaeology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1558/JSA.38829","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45661126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enduring Sacred Places: The Astronomical Orientation of the Iberian Cave-Sanctuary of Cueva Santa del Cabriel in Spain","authors":"Sonia Machause López, C. Esteban, F. Muñoz","doi":"10.1558/JSA.36707","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1558/JSA.36707","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents the results of an archaeoastronomical study of the Iberian Iron Age cave-sanctuary of Cueva Santa del Cabriel, near the town of Mira in the province of Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, central Spain, together with a review of the latest archaeological and ethnographical data about the site. We found that the cave's 12 m-long access corridor is oriented precisely along the summer solstice sunset, so that the north wall of the main gallery is partially illuminated by sunlight at this time. Although the cave was in use from the Late Chalcolithic, it became an important religious centre in the Iberian period. After an apparent hiatus during the Roman and Islamic occupations, its ritual use was re-established with the Christian Reconquista, especially from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, and it is now dedicated to the worship of the Virgin Mary. Popular pilgrimages to the cave have continued until the present day. The characteristics of modern traditions related to the cave can, however, be of great value in understanding ancient Iberian ritual practices.","PeriodicalId":36192,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Skyscape Archaeology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1558/JSA.36707","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42739619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"International Conference: Astronomical Heritage of the Middle East, Republic of Armenia National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia, 13–17th November, 2017","authors":"Ilaria Cristofaro","doi":"10.1558/jsa.37357","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1558/jsa.37357","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36192,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Skyscape Archaeology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43278308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Supplementary Material for “Solstice Alignments at Angkor Wat and Nearby Temples: Connecting to the Cycles of Time”","authors":"William F. Romain","doi":"10.1558/JSA.38250","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1558/JSA.38250","url":null,"abstract":"The main text of this article presents data suggesting that solstice alignments were intentionally incorporated into the design of Angkor Wat. Details relevant to four more solstice aligned temples are also included in the main text. The purpose of the present document is to provide detailed assessments for ten additional Angkor temples and a more distant site known as Preah Khan of Kompong Svay. We begin this document, however, with additional commentary regarding the methods employed in the study – especially concerning the use of Google Earth Pro (2018).","PeriodicalId":36192,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Skyscape Archaeology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48612011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"“Pathways to the Cosmos – The Alignment of Megalithic Tombs in Ireland and Atlantic Europe”. Dublin Castle, Ireland, 15th September, 2018","authors":"Liz Henty","doi":"10.1558/JSA.37392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1558/JSA.37392","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36192,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Skyscape Archaeology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42466970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Brian E. Penprase, The Power of the Stars (Second Edition)","authors":"Liz Henty","doi":"10.1558/JSA.37235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1558/JSA.37235","url":null,"abstract":"Brian E. Penprase, The Power of the Stars, (Second Edition). Cham, Switzerland: Springer (2017). English, 350 pp., with colour illustrations. e-Book, ISBN: 978-3-319-52597-6. £31.99. Hardcover, ISBN: 978-3-319-52595-2. £39.99.","PeriodicalId":36192,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Skyscape Archaeology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47277781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Solstice Alignments at Angkor Wat and Nearby Temples: Connecting to the Cycles of Time","authors":"William F. Romain","doi":"10.1558/JSA.35712","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1558/JSA.35712","url":null,"abstract":"Built in the early twelfth century AD, Angkor Wat is one of the world's largest ancient religious structures. Each year, thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage to Angkor Wat to witness the equinox sunrise over the temple's lotus-shaped towers. In addition to the equinox alignment, however, there are other alignments at Angkor Wat and many of the surrounding temples. In this article, multiple solstice alignments are identified for Angkor Wat and 11 nearby temples: Bakong, Phnom Bakheng, Phnom Bok, Phnom Krom, East Mebon, Pre Rup, Banteay Srei, Ta Keo, Baphuon, Preah Khan and Bayon. Subsequent to ground and aerial reconnaissance of the above sites, archaeoastronomical assessments were made using Google Earth Pro, with solstice azimuths calculated using standard protocols. More than 70 solstice alignments were thus identified. The multiplicity of solstice alignments, combined with other data, suggest that it was important for Angkor temples to be connected to the Sun. If, as endorsed here, Angkor temples were microcosmic models of the cosmos, then arguably, solstice alignments connected the temples to the cyclic movement of the cosmos as manifested by the solar cycle.","PeriodicalId":36192,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Skyscape Archaeology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1558/JSA.35712","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42955822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}