Ancient Astronomy Evening at Chimney Rock, Gene Coatney

Ancient Astronomy at Chimney Rock Gene Coatney |

 

Archeoastronomy. The study of how ancient cultures viewed the heavens. Cultures like the Mayans, Aztecs, Babylonians, and ancient Egyptians. Sites like Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid, and Machu Picchu. These people watched the sky from sites like these with an intensity almost unimaginable today. Not only did it take years of careful observations to prepare these sites for building, they quite often needed unbelievable amounts of manpower to construct them.  While these cultures and their buildings have fascinated us for many centuries, it wasn’t until 1869 that these things were studied seriously, and it wasn’t until the last 30 years or so that things really started dropping into place for us.  Computers brought the technological advances needed to bring ourselves up to par with the ancients.  Now we can see where things are pointing, calculating or predicting, where before it was mostly guessing.

 

Enter Chimney Rock.  Previously most theories held that people inhabited the area because of the spiritual significance of being near such a sacred landmark.  More recently it was discovered that the great Kiva was built in such a way as to observe the moon rising between the two rocks during a “lunar standstill” when the moon reaches its northernmost period of travel along the horizon.  This is an event that happens every 18.6 years. The programs for the lunar standstill are held once a month (not necessarily on the full moon) and are sold out many moons in advance.

The construction of the site to observe the lunar standstill being obvious now, many other questions arose.  What other astronomical observations were made from here? So on Saturday, August 26^th they held a new program Archaeo-Astronomy and Sky Watch.  I was one among the twenty some odd attending.  After a quick check in at the gate we converged at the lower parking lot to await everyone, have a quick talk about the area and the program for tonight, peppered with precautions about safety on the tour. Then it was a two and a half mile drive to the upper parking lot. After some more talk about the area and culture, we began the quarter mile trek up to the Great Kiva.

Archeoastronomy. The study of how ancient cultures viewed the heavens. Cultures like the Mayans, Aztecs, Babylonians, and ancient Egyptians. Sites like Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid, and Machu Picchu. These people watched the sky from sites like these with an intensity almost unimaginable today. Not only did it take years of careful observations to prepare these sites for building, they quite often needed unbelievable amounts of manpower to construct them.  While these cultures and their buildings have fascinated us for many centuries, it wasn’t until 1869 that these things were studied seriously, and it wasn’t until the last 30 years or so that things really started dropping into place for us.  Computers brought the technological advances needed to bring ourselves up to par with the ancients.  Now we can see where things are pointing, calculating or predicting, where before it was mostly guessing.

Seated on the ground around the circular Great Kiva, we were crammed with facts about Chimney Rock, along with a quick idea of what Archeoastronomy is and how it relates to this culture. Slowly the sky darkened. We talked about the moon, a thin crescent that soon lost itself into the horizon. We talked about the weather, a rainy day that had most of us wondering if the program was still going to happen, and the clouds that were threatening to keep the heavens hidden. We talked about the International Space Station, satellites, Iridium flashes, and supernovae.

And then it happened. The clouds dissipated and our sky was alive with countless stars and the beautiful belt of the Milky Way. That is when the show began. We were given a tour of the heavens with a laser pointer, learning what the ancients might have thought and believed about the celestial sphere. And the best part of it was the view. Being an amateur stargazer I look up into the night sky whenever the opportunity presents itself. This was a totally unobstructed view excepting Chimney Rock itself. And you are up high enough that none of the other mountains nearby even try to get in the way.

All in all it was a very enjoyable evening that I would recommend to most anyone. If you do go I would suggest bringing a jacket, water, flashlight, and something like a blanket or cushion to sit on. For questions about the area, and the dates of it various tours, log on to www.chimneyrockco.org