NATS 1745 Lecture Notes - Heel Stone, Fajada Butte, Chaco Culture National Historical Park
23 Oct 2012
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We will be looking at three sites that show a connection to the sun, study of these sites is archaeoasronomy. Newgrange"s roofbox is aligned to the winter solstice sunrise. Has roofbox facing winter solstice sunrise, so on shortest day of year, light shines through. The alignment of the tomb likely reflects a belief in rebirth or reincarnation (because it"s the shortest day of the year: moodle site has youtube video) Based on newgrange"s construction (how difficult it would have been to move rocks) we can assume that this was built to commemorate people/something of great importance. The sundagger of chaco canyon, new mexico (1000 ad) On the summit of fajada butte in new mexico, 2 spiral carvings were found behind 3 stone slabs. At noon on the solstices and equinoxes, the sundagger exhibits 2 beams of sunlight which either bisect or frame the spiral. Stonehenge"s heel stone is aligned to the summer solstice sunrise.
