Namoratunga: The First Archeoastronomical Evidence in Sub-Saharan Africa

Namoratunga, a megalithic site in northwestern Kenya, has an alignment of 19 basalt pillars that are nonrandomly oriented toward certain stars and constellations. The same stars and constellations are used by modern eastern Cushitic peoples to calculate an accurate calendar. The fact that Namoratung...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1978-05, Vol.200 (4343), p.766-768
Main Authors: Lynch, B. M., Robbins, L. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anvils
Archaeoastronomy
Azimuth
Constellations
Lynchings
Materials
Natural satellites
Stars
Sulfur
Thermal decomposition
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Summary:Namoratunga, a megalithic site in northwestern Kenya, has an alignment of 19 basalt pillars that are nonrandomly oriented toward certain stars and constellations. The same stars and constellations are used by modern eastern Cushitic peoples to calculate an accurate calendar. The fact that Namoratunga dates to about 300 B.C. suggests that a prehistoric calendar based on detailed astronomical knowledge was in use in eastern Africa.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.200.4343.766