Clive Ruggles

Archaeoastronomy

… is the study of beliefs and practices relating to the sky in the past, especially in prehistory, and the uses to which people's know- ledge of the skies was put.

     
Journals

   
Professional bodies


Free software tools

Basic declination calculator

 

HORIZON
by Andrew Smith


See the Tools page for more info


Books

Springer Handbook (2014):

 

Ocarina Books publishes and distributes books relating to archaeo- and ethnoastronomy

Publications

       

This list of my books and selected papers and articles contains links and downloadable copies where available.

Stonehenge avenue and “Bluestonehenge”

Stonehenge avenue runs for almost 3km up to Stonehenge from West Amesbury henge, by the banks of the River Avon. Excavations in 2009 suggested that this location once held a circle of bluestones that were subsequently moved to Stonehenge, around the same time that the ditches of the avenue were dug.

The final stretch of the avenue leading up to Stonehenge is famously aligned upon winter solstice sunset and summer solstice sunrise, as is the axis of Stonehenge itself. An excavated section across the avenue in 2008 yielded a big surprise, however…

Archaeoastronomy helps to identify a ceremonial gathering place in pre-contact Hawai‘i

Ethnographic accounts indicate the existence in the Hawaiian Islands at the time of European contact of special places where people would gather during the Makahiki period, to offer tribute to the priests of the god Lono and for sports and other recreational activities. However, no such place had been positively identified to date. Now, through a combination of mapping, excavation, radiocarbon dating, archaeoastronomical analysis, and ethnography, a strong candidate has been identified in the uplands of western O‘ahu.

Astronomical heritage

Portal to the Heritage of Astronomy

Read more on the UNESCO–IAU Portal to the Heritage of Astronomy and about astronomical heritage in general

Free downloads

ICOMOS–IAU Thematic Studies on Astronomical Heritage

No. 1 (2010): See here for more information or click here to download a copy directly (46 Mb)

No. 2 (2017): See here for more information or click here to download a copy (19 Mb)

 

Astronomical World Heritage

 

Download a copy of an article published in A&G (Aug 2019 issue)

Stonehenge and Ancient Astronomy

 

Download a copy of the Royal Astronomical Society’s factsheet

Alice Ruggles Trust

If you are looking for things related to Alice and/or information about stalking, please visit the Alice Ruggles Trust website

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