Exploring Ancient Skies: An Encyclopedic Survey of Archaeoastronomy [Hardcover]

David H. Kelley (Author), Eugene F. Milone (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387953108 | ISBN-13: 978-0387953106 | Publication Date: November 19, 2004 | Edition: 1

Exploring Ancient Skies brings together the methods of archaeology and the insights of modern astronomy to explore the science of astronomy as it was practiced in various cultures prior to the invention of the telescope. The book reviews an enormous and growing body of literature on the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, the Far East, and the New World (particularly Mesoamerica), putting the ancient astronomical materials into their archaeological and cultural contexts.

The authors begin with an overview of the field and proceed to essential aspects of naked-eye astronomy, followed by an examination of specific cultures. The book concludes by taking into account the purposes of ancient astronomy: astrology, navigation, calendar regulation, and (not least) the understanding of our place and role in the universe. Skies are recreated to display critical events as they would have appeared to ancient observers - events such as the supernova of 1054, the 'lion horoscope' or the 'Star of Bethlehem.'

Exploring Ancient Skies provides a comprehensive overview of the relationships between astronomy and other areas of human investigation. It will be useful as a reference for scholars and students in both astronomy and archaeology, and will be of compelling interest to readers who seek a broad understanding of our collective intellectual history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews:

"...An invaluable resource for any astronomical historian-hobbyist or professional....Their book is a blockbuster achievement that will be a great reference source for details, discussion, and argument for years to come." (Owen Gingerich, SKY AND TELESCOPE, August 2005)

"Exploring Ancient Skies aims to cover the entire spectrum of the subject - scientific, geographical, mythological and historical - and to underline many of the interpretive problems. It succeeds superbly. I will turn to it time and again, not only for reference but also for enjoyment." (David Hughes, THE TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT, December 2, 2005)

"Exploring Ancient Skies aims to cover the entire spectrum of the subject – scientific, geographical, mythological and historical … . It succeeds superbly. I will turn to it time and again, not only for reference but also for enjoyment. Students, scholars and researchers will benefit hugely … . The book’s scope is vast. … It is profusely illustrated and much care has been taken with the production of the descriptive figures. There is also a 50-page reference section and a thorough index." (David Hughes, The Times Higher, December, 2005)

"David Kelly, a distinguished linguist … and Eugene Milone, a widely traveled astronomer, both from the University of Calgary, have teamed up to produce their hefty and aptly titled Exploring Ancient Skies. … lists some 3,000 bibliographical sources – a wealth of information that every astronomy teacher … would love to have within arm’s reach. … Their book is a block-buster achievement that will be a great reference source for details, discussion, and argument for years to come." (Owen Gingerich, Sky & Telescope, August, 2005)

"Kelly (emer., archaeology, Univ. of Calgary) and Milone (Univ. of Calgary) review what is known of pre-telescopic astronomy and its place in cultures worldwide. … This book is well served by many data tables, drawings, photographs … references to the literature, and an annotated guide to archaeostronomy tools. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (M. Dickinson, CHOICE, Vol. 42 (9), May, 2005)

From the Back Cover

Exploring Ancient Skies brings together the methods of archaeology and the insights of modern astronomy to explore the science of astronomy as it was practiced in various cultures prior to the invention of the telescope. The book reviews an enormous and growing body of literature on the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, the Far East, and the New World (particularly Mesoamerica), putting the ancient astronomical materials into their archaeological and cultural contexts. The authors begin with an overview of the field and proceed to essential aspects of naked-eye astronomy, followed by an examination of specific cultures. The book concludes by taking into account the purposes of ancient astronomy: astrology, navigation, calendar regulation, and (not least) the understanding of our place and role in the universe. Skies are recreated to display critical events as they would have appeared to ancient observers—events such as the supernova of 1054 A.D., the "lion horoscope," and the Star of Bethlehem. Exploring Ancient Skies provides a comprehensive overview of the relationships between astronomy and other areas of human investigation. It will be useful as a reference for scholars and as a text for students in both astronomy and archaeology, and will be of compelling interest to readers who seek a broad understanding of our collective intellectual history. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 616 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (November 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387953108
• ISBN-13: 978-0387953106
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,497,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Explorers of ancient calendars and sacred geometry, take note, April 26, 2008

By 

Bethe (Maine, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exploring Ancient Skies: An Encyclopedic Survey of Archaeoastronomy (Hardcover)

One of these days, if gas prices aren't too high, I hope to make a trip to Calgary to meet Kelley and Milone. William Sullivan (author of The Secret of the Incas) urged me to ante up for this terribly expensive book. It is phenomenal.

The authors are teachers/researchers (Kelley an archaeologist of the Maya, and Milone a professor of astronomy and physics) who have worked together with students over more than 25 years as they prepared this text. It includes everything you would ever want to know about naked-eye sky observation. The "naked eye" part is the key. No telescopes. Simply a history of the methods, tools and ritual objects/architectures related to recording what was observed in the sky and how those observations might have been interpreted.

I was impressed to find among the color plates a photo of a calendrically-aligned sun pyramid brought to the attention of researchers by Sullivan and his colleagues in Peru. Also included are references to "mavericks" such as von Dechend and diSantillana. Even more amazing, the book is introduced by Anthony Aveni, who praises the authors for the great service they have done for the field by compiling such an exhaustive reference frame--while at the same time distances himself somewhat from some of the work.

The authors present tidbits of research that would likely otherwise be lost, and it is this material that is so fascinating in understanding ancient culture and its roots in the present. Any researcher, no matter their area of expertise, is likely to find gold in this book. One example is a hand-held geometric artifact related to a stone circle celebration in ancient Ireland. I have not seen this object previously in the plethora of books on sacred geometry I have read over the past 30 years. It may provide a link between the goddess Hecate and her rhombos/magic wheel.

In summary, the authors' intent it to provide detailed observation training, with examples, and then to go at the inventory of worldwide literature. Rather than creating an interpretive frame, they include rather than exclude pieces of work outside the "mainstream." Proponents of 2012 calendrics would do well to read this book. Much work in the direction of precessional calendrics was done without much fanfare prior to the harmonic convergence of 1987. The book's extensive bibliography has the feel of tracking down lost family members whose existence was rendered meaningless in the face of scientific archaeoastronomy.