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Ballynahow Beg

Rock Art and Astronomical Events

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CianMcLiam 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.

T tiompan
tiompan Sep 11, 2007 08:27:27
Replying to CianMcLiam

CianMcLiam wrote:
[quote="tiompan"]

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.

I'm a wee bit agnostic about RA and astro alignments due to the nature of RA finds which can be spread over a wide area allowing you to cherry pick , unlike a monument where it aligns or doesn't . However some do ,whether it is fortuitous or intentional is debatable .The first pic is of a group found a couple of years ago , from rock to summit gives a declination of -24 .1 which is the winter solstice sun rise .http://rockartuk.fotopic.net/c606061.html

Next has a declination of -29.59 between the rock and the junction of the saddle and hill which is winter major moon rise . http://rockartuk.fotopic.net/c681342.html
When you turn round the same rock is aligned on the top of Ben Lawers at the equinox . There is a certain connection with RA in and on monuments and astro alignments e.g. Nether Largie , Newgrange , Clava Cairns but the open air examples are in the tiny minority .