Advancing Cultural Astronomy

This collection of essays on cultural astronomy celebrates the life and work of Clive Ruggles, Emeritus Professor of Archaeoastronomy at Leicester University. Taking their lead from Ruggles' work, the papers present new research focused on three core themes in cultural astronomy: methodology, case studies, and heritage. Through this framework, they show how the study of cultural astronomy has evolved over time and share new ideas to continue advancing the field.Ruggles' work in these areas has had a profound impact on the way that scholars approach evidence of the role of sky in both ancient and modern cultures. While the papers span many time periods and regions, they are closely connected by these three major themes, presenting methodological investigations of how we can approach archaeological, textual, and ethnographic evidence; describing detailed archaeoastronomical case studies; or stressing the importance of global heritage management.This work will appeal to researchers and scholars interested in the history and development of cultural astronomy.

Chapter 1. Clive Ruggles and the Development of Cultural Astronomy.- Chapter 2. What Equinox?.- Chapter 3. Their Equinox: Mesopotamian Conceptions of Solstices and Equinoxes.- Chapter 4. The Hopi Calendar and Some Archaeological Correlates of Horizon Markers.- Chapter 5. Signs, Not Phenomena: Moqoit Cosmo-politics and Alternative Experiences of the Sky.- Chapter 6. On Translating Cardinal Directions in Ancient Greek Geographers.- Chapter 7. The North Sky and the Otherworld: Journeys of the Dead in the Neolithic Considered.- Chapter 8. Diachrony and the Big Picture: Chabola de la Hechicera, a Peculiar Orientation and a Sacred Landscape.- Chapter 9. An Investigation of the Role of Architectural Orders in Greek Temple Orientation.- Chapter 10. The Stars in Ancient Greece.- Chapter 11. Why are there Seven Sisters?.- Chapter 12. Remarks on the Lunar Series and Eclipse Cycles in Late Classic Maya Records.- Chapter 13. Finally, a Very Fruitful Interdisciplinary Cooperation.- Chapter 14. The Chankillo Solar Observatory and Ceremonial Centre: A Heritage for the World.- Chapter 15. Cultural Heritage of Observatories in the Context with the IAU–UNESCO Initiative –  Highlights in the Development of Architecture.