Orientatio ad sidera IV: landscape and cloudscape in astronomy

In force date
Call year
2015
Investigator
Juan Antonio
Belmonte Avilés
Amount granted to the IAC Consortium
107.811,00 €
Description

In this project, a new approach to Cultural Astronomy studies (archaeoastronomy and ethnoastronomy) will be performed, departing from a new perspective related to global landscape, including skyscape. It will also be in continuation of several lines of research in the field developed in previous projects that have served us as an experience to promote this new perspective. These lines have to do with two milestones in astronomy related to human thought, namely: (a) The Worldview, and (b) Time-keeping.

Both give rise to a rich cultural heritage as has been reflected in the initiative "Astronomy and World Heritage" (AWH) coordinated by UNESCO and the IAU that may be promoted as a new resource. According to the above, the work to be done under the project focus on several lines of research, some already developed by our research group, and others we wish to develop anew (with the help of a new postdoctoral contract):

1) ASTRONOMY OF ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN CULTURES. Within the framework of the OAS AYA2004-01010, OAS II AYA2007-60213 and III AYA2011-26759 Projects we had focused on the analysis of various aspects of these cultures related to the observation of the sky (in particular in Egypt, the Hittites and pre-Islamic Arabia.

2) PREHISTORY OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA. Studies on the megalithic astronomy phenomenon.

3) ARCHAEOASTRONOMICAL STUDY OF THE ROMAN WORLD. Study of Roman urbanism in Hispania and Gaul, as this is a substantial part of landscapes, both celestial and terrestrial (anthropogenic or not). Possible extension to other areas of the Empire.

4) ASTRONOMY AND CULTURE IN THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO.

5) Finally, we plan to start --funding permitted--, a new line of research for the STUDY OF ASTRONOMICAL PRACTICES IN THE ANDEAN REGION. This study will imply entering a new symbolic and suggestive world, including archaeoastronomical and ethnohistorical studies on various sites such as the pre-Columbian city of Caral (Peru) and its environment, and the funerary highland monuments known as chulpas.