Re: Rock Art and Astronomical Events | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Ballynahow Beg 1

Image by CianMcLiam

Ballynahow Beg

Rock Art and Astronomical Events

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tiompan Sep 10, 2007 22:07:33

Replying to CianMcLiam

CianMcLiam wrote:

The 'rolling sun' phenomenon at the Boheh Stone is one fairly well known example, but I believe you won't see it from the stone itself, perhaps because of buildings? Anyway, I was at Ballynahow Beg late evening on Friday and while getting my act together noticed this: http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/62475/images/ballynahow_beg.html

Has there been any serious attempt to identify rock art locations as observation points or is this likely to be a random fluke?

I always check any new finds for possible astro alignments and there are examples of RA that coincide with the topography to provide a possible marker for an important lunar/solar event .There are also the more common monuments that are accepted as being aligned on astro events which also have RA If you do find a possible line it is very difficult to prove intentionality and thus making it an alignment but you may well have one there , to check it's potential you would have to know accurate grid refs for the stone and the notch and also their heights above sea level .

C

CianMcLiam Sep 10, 2007 23:09:30

Replying to tiompan

tiompan wrote:

I always check any new finds for possible astro alignments and there are examples of RA that coincide with the topography to provide a possible marker for an important lunar/solar event .There are also the more common monuments that are accepted as being aligned on astro events which also have RA If you do find a possible line it is very difficult to prove intentionality and thus making it an alignment but you may well have one there , to check it's potential you would have to know accurate grid refs for the stone and the notch and also their heights above sea level .

Thanks, yes indeed, proving an alignment with no artificial backsight is a slippery business but sure in Ireland you'll still get directions from people with such timeless waypoints as 'turn right when you see a red van parked outside a bungalow' :)

Co-ords and altitude for the RA are no problem, getting similar for the notch is probably extremely difficult given that it's a different notch from any other location! I know the sun will set in that notch in the next few weeks but it moves so fast at the equinoxes it's premature for me to say it's anything but speculation. Just wondering if anyone's nailed down a more persuasive assortment of RA sites with similar.