Archaeoastronomy

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Archaeoastronomy

Author : Giulio Magli
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 331922882X
Total Pages : 253 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (192 download)

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Book Synopsis Archaeoastronomy by : Giulio Magli

Download or read book Archaeoastronomy written by Giulio Magli and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-10-30 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides the first complete, easy to read, up-to-date account of the fascinating discipline of archaeoastronomy, in which the relationship between ancient constructions and the sky is studied in order to gain a better understanding of the ideas of the architects of the past and of their religious and symbolic worlds. The book is divided into three sections, the first of which explores the past relations between astronomy and people, power, the afterworld, architecture, and landscape. The fundamentals of archaeoastronomy are then addressed in detail, with coverage of the celestial coordinates; the apparent motion of the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets; observation of celestial bodies at the horizon; the use of astronomical software in archaeoastronomy; and current methods for making and analyzing measurements. The final section reviews what archaeoastronomy can now tell us about the nature and purpose of such sites and structures as Stonehenge, the Pyramids of Giza, Chichen Itza, the Campus Martius, and the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento. In addition, a set of exercises is provided that can be performed using non-commercial free software, e.g., Google Earth or Stellarium, and will equip readers to conduct their own research. Readers will find the book an ideal introduction to what has become a wide-ranging multidisciplinary science.

East-Asian Archaeoastronomy

Author : Zhenoao Xu
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 9789056993023
Total Pages : 452 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (93 download)

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Book Synopsis East-Asian Archaeoastronomy by : Zhenoao Xu

Download or read book East-Asian Archaeoastronomy written by Zhenoao Xu and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2000-11-17 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Historical astronomical records can play an important role in modern research, especially in the case of ancient Chinese observational data: sunspot and aurora records are important for the study of solar variability; solar and lunar eclipse records for the study of the Earth's rotation; records of Comet Hally for the study of orbital evolution; "guest star" records for the study of supernova remnants; planetary conjunction records for research in astronomical chronology. In the past, Western scientists have not been able to exploit these valuable data fully because the original records were difficult to gather and interpret, and complete English translations have not been available. East-Asian Archaeoastronomy is the first comprehensive translation into English of such historical records for modern research. The book also features an introduction to East Asian astronomy and offers guidance on how to use the records effectively. It will not only be a valuable research tool for astronomers but should also be of great interest to historians of China and Chinese science.

Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy

Author : Clive L.N. Ruggles
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9781461461401
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (614 download)

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Book Synopsis Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy by : Clive L.N. Ruggles

Download or read book Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy written by Clive L.N. Ruggles and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-08-16 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How human communities interpret what they perceive in the sky is vital in fulfilling humankind’s most basic need to comprehend the universe it inhabits, both from a modern scientific perspective and from countless other cultural standpoints, extending right back to early prehistory. Archaeoastronomy, which is concerned with cultural perceptions and understandings of astronomical phenomena, is a rich cross-disciplinary field. The central aim of “Handbook of Archaeoastronomy” is to provide a reliable source for theory, method, interpretation and best practices that will give a definitive picture of the state of the art research in this field for serious scholars regardless of the discipline(s) in which they are qualified. It will be equally suitable for those already contributing to the field and those interested in entering it. Also included are studies in ethnoastronomy, which is concerned with contemporary practices related to astronomy, particularly among modern indigenous societies. A major part of this MRW is comprised of a set of wide-ranging archaeoastronomical case studies both geographically and through time, stretching right back to Palaeolithic days, and also in terms of the types of human society and nature of their astronomical ideas and practices. However, these are chosen in order to best illuminate broader issues and themes, rather than to attempt, for example, to provide systematic coverage of recent ‘discoveries.’ Thematic articles cover general themes such as cosmologies, calendars, navigation, orientations and alignments, and ancient perceptions of space and time. They also highlight various aspects of the social context of astronomy (its relationship to social power, warfare, etc) and how we interpret astronomical practices within the framework of conceptual approaches. There are also discussions of broad issues such as ethnocentrism, nationalism, and astronomical dating. The “methods and practices” articles cover topics from field methodology and survey procedures to social theory, as well as providing broad definitions and explanations of key concepts. We are also including a number of “disciplinary perspectives” on approaches to archaeoastronomy written by leading figures in the constituent fields. These articles cover material that, generally speaking, would be familiar to graduates in the relevant discipline but, critically, not so to those with different backgrounds.

Descriptive Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Indian Chronology

Author : Amitabha Ghosh
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 9811569037
Total Pages : 205 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (115 download)

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Book Synopsis Descriptive Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Indian Chronology by : Amitabha Ghosh

Download or read book Descriptive Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Indian Chronology written by Amitabha Ghosh and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-07-04 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents the basic fundamentals of descriptive archaeoastronomy and its application to the astronomical descriptions found in ancient Indian scriptures. Archaeoastronomy is a branch of positional astronomy that helps to determine the epochs of ancient astronomical alignments and special astronomical events. In this book, only the descriptions of special stellar alignments and events found in ancient texts can identify the antiquity of the descriptions. India possesses a large volume of ancient scriptures like Vedas and Puranas which contain many astronomical descriptions as in ancient India positional astronomy was well developed. The antiquities of these texts are determined through archaeoastronomical techniques. Major events like Mahabharata War are dated and using these dates a chronology of ancient India is determined. The astronomically determined chronology is compared with the results from various archaeological, palaeoclimatological, geological and genealogical investigations of ancient India. This introductory book interests readers interested in unveiling the mystery involved with the protohistory of this ancient civilization.

African Cultural Astronomy

Author : Jarita Holbrook
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1402066392
Total Pages : 257 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis African Cultural Astronomy by : Jarita Holbrook

Download or read book African Cultural Astronomy written by Jarita Holbrook and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-01-01 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first scholarly collection of articles focused on the cultural astronomy of the African continent. It weaves together astronomy, anthropology, and Africa and it includes African myths and legends about the sky, alignments to celestial bodies found at archaeological sites and at places of worship, rock art with celestial imagery, and scientific thinking revealed in local astronomy traditions including ethnomathematics and the creation of calendars.

Mysteries and Discoveries of Archaeoastronomy

Author : Giulio Magli
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 0387765662
Total Pages : 476 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (877 download)

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Book Synopsis Mysteries and Discoveries of Archaeoastronomy by : Giulio Magli

Download or read book Mysteries and Discoveries of Archaeoastronomy written by Giulio Magli and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-04-09 with total page 476 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book is divided into two parts. In the first, the reader is taken on an ideal ‘world tour’ of many wonderful and enigmatic places in almost every continent, in search of traces of astronomical knowledge and lore of the sky. In the second part, Giulio Magli uses the elements presented in the tour to show that the fundamental idea which led to the construction of the astronomically-related giant monuments was the foundation of power, a foundation which was exploited by ‘replicating’ the sky. A possible interpretive model then emerges that is founded on the relationship the ancients had with “nature”, in the sense of everything that surrounded them, the cosmos. The numerous monumental astronomically aligned structures of the past then become interpretable as acts of will, expressions of power on the part of those who held it; the will to replicate the heavenly plane here on earth and to build sacred landscapes. Finally, having formulated his hypothesis, Professor Magli returns to visit one specific place in detail, searching for proof. This in-depth examination studies the most compelling, the most intensively studied, the most famous and, until recently, the most misunderstood sacred landscape on the planet - Giza, in Egypt. The archaeoastronomical analysis of the orientation of the Giza pyramids leads to the hypothesis that the pyramids of Cheops and Chephren belong to the same construction project.

Archaeoastronomy in the Old World

Author : D. C. Heggie
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 0521247349
Total Pages : 294 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (212 download)

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Book Synopsis Archaeoastronomy in the Old World by : D. C. Heggie

Download or read book Archaeoastronomy in the Old World written by D. C. Heggie and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1982-08-05 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The papers in this book, summarising the proceedings of a conference at the University of Oxford in September 1981, are concerned with shedding light on a controversial aspect of European prehistory: was astronomy practised in the late Neolithic and bronze ages? This volume will be of interest to prehistorians, professionals with pure and applied sciences background and statisticians.

The Power of Stars

Author : Bryan E. Penprase
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319525972
Total Pages : 353 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (195 download)

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Book Synopsis The Power of Stars by : Bryan E. Penprase

Download or read book The Power of Stars written by Bryan E. Penprase and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-05-05 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Completely revised and updated, this new edition provides a readable, beautifully illustrated journey through world cultures and the vibrant array of sky mythology, creation stories, models of the universe, temples and skyscrapers that each culture has created to celebrate and respond to the power of the night sky. Sections on the archaeoastronomy of South Asia and South East Asia have been expanded, with original photography and new research on temple alignments in Southern India, and new material describing the astronomical practices of Indonesia, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. Beautiful photographs of temples in India and Asia have been added, as well as new diagrams explaining the alignment of these structures and the astronomical underpinnings of temples within the Pallava and Chola cultures. From new fieldwork in the Four Corners region of North America, Dr. Penprase has included accounts of Pueblo skywatching and photographs of ceremonial kivas that help elucidate the rich astronomical knowledge of the Pueblo people. The popular “Archaeoastronomy of Skyscrapers” section of the book has been updated as well, with new interpretations of skyscrapers in Indonesia, Taiwan and China.With the rapid pace of discovery in astronomy and astrophysics, entirely new perspectives are emerging about dark matter, inflation and the future of the universe. The Power of Stars puts these discoveries in context and describes how they fit into the modern perspective of cosmology, which has arisen from the universal human response to the sky that has inspired both ancient and modern cultures.

Exploring Ancient Skies

Author : David H. Kelley
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 038726356X
Total Pages : 623 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (872 download)

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Book Synopsis Exploring Ancient Skies by : David H. Kelley

Download or read book Exploring Ancient Skies written by David H. Kelley and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2005-12-06 with total page 623 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exploring Ancient Skies brings together the methods of archaeology and the insights of modern astronomy to explore the science of astronomy as it was practiced in various cultures prior to the invention of the telescope. The book reviews an enormous and growing body of literature on the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, the Far East, and the New World (particularly Mesoamerica), putting the ancient astronomical materials into their archaeological and cultural contexts. The authors begin with an overview of the field and proceed to essential aspects of naked-eye astronomy, followed by an examination of specific cultures. The book concludes by taking into account the purposes of ancient astronomy: astrology, navigation, calendar regulation, and (not least) the understanding of our place and role in the universe. Skies are recreated to display critical events as they would have appeared to ancient observers - events such as the supernova of 1054, the 'lion horoscope' or the 'Star of Bethlehem.' Exploring Ancient Skies provides a comprehensive overview of the relationships between astronomy and other areas of human investigation. It will be useful as a reference for scholars and students in both astronomy and archaeology, and will be of compelling interest to readers who seek a broad understanding of our collective intellectual history.

Exploring Archaeoastronomy

Author : Liz Henty
Publisher : Oxbow Books
ISBN 13 : 1789257883
Total Pages : 224 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (892 download)

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Book Synopsis Exploring Archaeoastronomy by : Liz Henty

Download or read book Exploring Archaeoastronomy written by Liz Henty and published by Oxbow Books. This book was released on 2022-04-30 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Archaeoastronomy and archaeology are two distinct fields of study which examine the cultural aspect of societies, but from different perspectives. Archaeoastronomy seeks to discover how the impact of the skyscape is materialized in culture, by alignments to celestial events or sky-based symbolism; yet by contrast, archaeology's approach examines all aspects of culture, but rarely considers the sky. Despite this omission, archaeology is the dominant discipline while archaeoastronomy is relegated to the sidelines. The reasons for archaeoastronomys marginalized status may be found by assessing its history. For such an exploration to be useful, archaeoastronomy cannot just be investigated in a vacuum but must be contextualized by exploring other contemporaneous developments, particularly in archaeology. On the periphery of both, there are various strands of esoteric thought and pseudoscientific theories which paint an alternative view of monumental remains and these also play a part in the background. The discipline of archaeology has had an unbroken lineage from the late 19th century to the present. On the other hand, archaeoastronomy has not been consistently titled, having adopted various different names such as alignment studies, orientation theory, astro-archaeology, megalithic science, archaeotopography, archaeoastronomy and cultural astronomy: names which depict variants of its methods and theory, sometimes in tandem with those of archaeology and sometimes in opposition. Similarly, its academic status has always been unclear so to bring it closer to archaeology there was a proposal in 2015 to integrate archaeoastronomy research with that of archaeology and call it skyscape archaeology. This volume will examine how all these different variants came about and consider archaeoastronomy's often troubled relationship with archaeology and its appropriation by esotericism to shed light on its position today.

Astronomy of the Inca Empire

Author : Steven R. Gullberg
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030483665
Total Pages : 377 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (34 download)

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Book Synopsis Astronomy of the Inca Empire by : Steven R. Gullberg

Download or read book Astronomy of the Inca Empire written by Steven R. Gullberg and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-08-06 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Astronomy in the Inca Empire was a robust and fundamental practice. The subsequent Spanish conquest of the Andes region disrupted much of this indigenous culture and resulted in a significant loss of information about its rich history. Through modern archaeoastronomy, this book helps recover and interpret some of these elements of Inca civilization. Astronomy was intricately woven into the very fabric of Andean existence and daily life. Accordingly, the text takes a holistic approach to its research, considering first and foremost the cultural context of each astronomy-related site. The chapters necessarily start with a history of the Incas from the beginning of their empire through the completion of the conquest by Spain before diving into an astronomical and cultural analysis of many of the huacas found in the heart of the Inca Empire. Over 300 color images—original artwork and many photos captured during the author’s extensive field research in Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Cusco, and elsewhere—are included throughout the book, adding visual insight to a rigorous examination of Inca astronomical sites and history.

Heritage Sites of Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy in the Context of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention

Author : Clive L. N. Ruggles
Publisher : Ocarina Books
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 298 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (21 download)

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Book Synopsis Heritage Sites of Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy in the Context of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention by : Clive L. N. Ruggles

Download or read book Heritage Sites of Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy in the Context of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention written by Clive L. N. Ruggles and published by Ocarina Books. This book was released on 2012 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Thematic Study is a joint venture between ICOMOS, the advisory body to UNESCO on cultural sites, and the International Astronomical Union. It presents an overall vision on astronomical heritage, attempts to identify what constitutes "outstanding universal significance to humankind" in relation to astronomy, and identifies broad issues that could arise in the assessment of cultural properties relating to astronomy. This is the first Thematic Study in any field of science heritage. It is elaborated using examples of properties from around the world, including some already on the World Heritage List or national Tentative Lists. The subject matter ranges from early prehistory to modern astrophysics and space heritage, and also prominently includes dark sky issues and modern observatory sites. An e-version of the Thematic Study was published in June 2010 in time to be presented to the 2010 meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, where it was duly approved. It has been circulated officially by the WHC to all of UNESCO's National Commissions. This full-colour paperback edition with some updates, and reformatted to new ICOMOS standards, was published in 2011 and is now offered for public sale.

Archaeoastronomy and the Maya

Author : Gerardo Aldana y Villalobos
Publisher : Oxbow Books
ISBN 13 : 1782976469
Total Pages : 177 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (829 download)

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Book Synopsis Archaeoastronomy and the Maya by : Gerardo Aldana y Villalobos

Download or read book Archaeoastronomy and the Maya written by Gerardo Aldana y Villalobos and published by Oxbow Books. This book was released on 2014-05-30 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Archaeoastronomy and the Maya illustrates archaeoastronomical approaches to ancient Mayan cultural production. The book is contextualized through a history of archaeoastronomical investigations into Mayan sites, originating in the 19th century discovery of astronomical tables within hieroglyphic books. Early 20th century archaeological excavations revealed inscriptions carved into stone that also preserved astronomical records, along with architecture that was built to reflect astronomical orientations. These materials provided the basis of a growing professionalized archaeoastronomy, blossoming in the 1970s and expanding into recent years. The chapters here exemplify the advances made in the field during the early 21st century as well as the on-going diversity of approaches, presenting new perspectives and discoveries in ancient Mayan astronomy that result from recent studies of architectural alignments, codices, epigraphy, iconography, ethnography, and calendrics. More than just investigations of esoteric ancient sciences, studies of ancient Mayan astronomy have profoundly aided our understanding of Mayan worldviews. Concepts of time and space, meanings encoded in religious art, intentions underlying architectural alignments, and even methods of political legitimization are all illuminated through the study of Mayan astronomy.

The Role of archaeoastronomy in the Maya World

Author : UNESCO Office Mexico
Publisher : UNESCO Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9235000114
Total Pages : 172 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (35 download)

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Book Synopsis The Role of archaeoastronomy in the Maya World by : UNESCO Office Mexico

Download or read book The Role of archaeoastronomy in the Maya World written by UNESCO Office Mexico and published by UNESCO Publishing. This book was released on 2016-12-31 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Archaeoastronomy in the Roman World

Author : Giulio Magli
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319970070
Total Pages : 205 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (199 download)

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Book Synopsis Archaeoastronomy in the Roman World by : Giulio Magli

Download or read book Archaeoastronomy in the Roman World written by Giulio Magli and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-03-27 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the insights that Cultural Astronomy provides into the classical Roman world by unveiling the ways in which the Romans made use of their knowledge concerning the heavens, and by shedding new light on the interactions between astronomy and heritage in ancient Roman culture. Leading experts in the field present fascinating information on how and why the Romans referred to the sky when deciding upon the orientation of particular monuments, temples, tombs and even urban layouts. Attention is also devoted to questions of broader interest, such as the contribution that religious interpretation of the sky made in the assimilation of conquered peoples. When one considers astronomy in the Roman world it is customary to think of the work and models of Ptolemy, and perhaps the Julian calendar or even the sighting of the Star of Bethlehem. However, like many other peoples in antiquity, the Romans interacted with the heavens in deeper ways that exerted a profound influence on their culture. This book highlights the need to take this complexity into account in various areas of research and will appeal to all those who wish to learn more about the application of astronomy in the lives and architecture of the Romans.

Prehistoric Astronomy in the Southwest

Author : J. McKim Malville
Publisher : Big Earth Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781555661168
Total Pages : 116 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (611 download)

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Book Synopsis Prehistoric Astronomy in the Southwest by : J. McKim Malville

Download or read book Prehistoric Astronomy in the Southwest written by J. McKim Malville and published by Big Earth Publishing. This book was released on 1993 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Archaeoastronomy is a discipline pioneered at Stonehenge and other megalithic sites in Britain and France. Many sites in the southwestern United States have yielded evidence of the prehistoric Anasazi's intense interest in astronomy, similar to that of the megalithic cultures of Europe. Drawing on the archaeological evidence, ethnographical parallels with historic pueblo peoples, and mythology from other cultures around the world, the authors present theories about the meaning and function of the mysterious stone alignments and architectural orientations of the prehistoric Southwest.

The Light, The Stones and The Sacred

Author : Andrea Orlando
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 331954487X
Total Pages : 245 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (195 download)

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Book Synopsis The Light, The Stones and The Sacred by : Andrea Orlando

Download or read book The Light, The Stones and The Sacred written by Andrea Orlando and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-05-27 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book addresses a variety of topics within the growing discipline of Archaeoastronomy, focusing especially on Archaeoastronomy in Sicily and the Mediterranean and Cultural Astronomy. A further priority is discussion of the astronomical and statistical methods used today to ascertain the degree of reliability of the chronological and cultural definition of sites and artifacts of archaeoastronomical interest. The contributions were all delivered at the XVth Congress of the Italian Society of Archaeoastronomy (SIA), held under the rubric "The Light, the Stones and the Sacred" – a theme inspired by the International Year of Light 2015, organized by UNESCO. The full meaning of many ancient monuments can only be understood by examining their relation to light, given the effects that light radiation produces in “interacting” with lithic structures. Moreover, in addition to manifestations of the sacred through the medium of light (hierophanies), there are many ties between temples, tombs, megalithic structures, and the architecture of almost all ages and cultures and our star, the Sun. Readers will find the book to be a source of fascinating insights based on synergies between the disciplines of archaeology and astronomy.