González-García, A. C.; Noguera Celdrán, J. M.; Belmonte Avilés, J. A.; Rodríguez Antón, A.; Ruiz Valderas, E.; Madrid Balanza, M. J.; Zamora, E.; Bonnet Casciaro, J.
Bibliographical reference
Zephyrus, LXXV, enero-junio 2015, 139-160
Advertised on:
6
2015
Refereed citations
0
Description
Archaeological investigations in Cartagena –the ancient Punic Qart Hadašt, Roman Carthago
Nova– have manifested the existence of ritual, urban and topographical elements that could be analyzed from
the perspective of Cultural Astronomy. Therefore, in October 2013, an interdisciplinary team of astronomers
and archaeologists conducted a field campaign of the main topographic and archaeological landmarks of the
Punic and Roman periods of the city. Methodologically, a basic guide criterion was established for each particular
element, measuring its corresponding azimuth(s). Three tandems, including precision compasses and
clinometers, were used to take the measurements. The data obtained have demonstrated the relevance, within
the ancient city, of a series of orientations towards sunrise and sunset at the summer solstice, whose significance
could be fully integrated within the context of the Punic ritual. This skyscaping was merged and reinterpreted in
the framework of the subsequent Roman appropriation of the city landscape, including their successive urban
and architectural programs, in particular that of the period of Emperor Augustus, when certain astronomical
orientations could serve to strengthen the image of Rome and the ‘Princeps’ as restorers of peace and guarantees
of a new order based in cosmological elements.
Related projects
Archaeoastronomy
The main objective of this project is to study the importance of astronomy as a fundamental part of human culture and civilization from Paleolithic to the present day. Our interest is mainly devoted to the people of the ancient Mediterranean cultures from the Atlantic to the Middle East, with a special dedication to Spain, its geographical
Juan Antonio
Belmonte Avilés