Archaeoastronomy And The Spiral Form - ORIGINAL

[Bianca]

http://forums.atlantisrising.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=000027;p=1









Author  Topic:                    ARCHEOASTRONOMY AND THE SPIRAL FORM 
Devlin

Member
Member # 3136

Member Rated:
   posted 12-31-2006 06:52 PM                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





A. ARCHEOASTRONOMY AND THE SPIRAL FORM



Given the complex nature of the spiral configuration it is perhaps somewhat surprising to find it carefully delineated on rock art in regions as widely scattered as Nicaragua, Indonesia and Italy - natural growth and universal solar aspects notwithstanding. Moreover, the same enigmatic symbol is also incorporated on the Plains of Nazca in Peru and precisely illuminated by rays of sunlight at a site high up on Fajada Butte at the entrance to Chaco Canyon (New Mexico) in the United States. Although no longer functional (see "Changing Patterns at Chaco Canyon", National Geographic Magazine, June 1990), as shown in the composite graphic below the delineation of the Equinoxes and Solstices at this Anasazi Solar Observatory is most impressive.





Fig. 1. The Solar Phenomena displayed at Fajada Butte

[Bianca]

The site itself is a relatively recent discovery as Thomas Y. Canby1 explains in an article in the June 1990 National Geographic Magazine:

"The spiral and the sunlight pattern were discovered in 1977 by Anna Sofaer, a Washington D.C., artist. On the shortest day of the year, she found later, two vertical beams of light would bracket the spiral. The Anasazi, Sofaer believes, were demonstrating a sophisticated use of astronomy".

The arrangement apparently once delineated both pairs of Solstices and Equinoxes with great precision, employing a double set of spirals as an integral part of the scheme. Considered the work of the Anasazi (700 - 1600 BCE, Krupp 1983:152), it has apparently deteriorated in recent times, but in working order it must surely have ranked as one of the most impressive solar sites encountered anywhere. As can be seen, the Summer Solstice (B) "dagger" of light is exactly positioned in the center of the large spiral, while the Equinoxes on the other hand (A and C) also employ a secondary "dagger" of light on a smaller secondary spiral. In these two instances, however, although the secondary "daggers" of light are effectively centered, the larger indicators appear to be similarly offset from the centre of the main spiral. For more on Anna Sofaer's research, see the latter's Solstice Project..2 For details concerning the astronomical complexities of Fajada Butte and Figure 2 below see also The Mystery of Chaco Canyon and Sun Dagger video presentations.



Fig. 2. The Astronomical Complexities of Fajada Butte

Source: Reduced Fig. 4.4;
Anna P.Sofaer and Rolf M. Sinclair,
1983.
Third (red) arrow added for clarity.

[Bianca]

THE SPIRAL FORM IN ANTIQUITY



Returning to the Old World, on checking further we find that the spiral configuration is also carved on ornate Magdalenian antler rods in France, found in Sicily, Spain and not least of all Malta, where some of the most sophisticated spirals adorn the ancient Maltese temple of Tarxien (ca.3300 BC), one of the oldest stone buildings on Earth. Moreover, adjacent to the extensive Megalithic site Carnac in Northern France is the impressive structure at Gavr'inis, which is described by Alistair Service and Jean Bradbury (Megaliths and their Mysteries, 1979) as:

quite simply the finest decorated passage-grave of all, with Newgrange in Ireland its only rival. Twenty-three of the twenty-nine slabs which form the walls of Gav'inis are carved with intricate spirals, intersecting semicircles, and other whorled patterns. It is not yet known whether these patterns are purely decorative of whether they have some religious significance. A meaning or a symbolism seems likely, since the spiral forms occur so often in Neolithic carving, but the code remains hidden.12
Ornate spirals and patterns also adorn two large stones outside the entrance to Newgrange, perhaps pointing the way to what lies inside - further carvings of grouped spirals on the roof of side cells, and an enigmatic triple spiral illuminated by sunlight flooding down the passage at sunrise on the winter solstice. (Photo Credit: Light Years Ago by Tim O'Brien; shamrock and text added). The emphasis on snake-like spirals (triple or otherwise) in Neolithic Ireland is unusual, for the snake is not indigenous there, and furthermore, as legend would have it, the snake was driven out of Ireland by Saint Patrick in any case. Thus the predominance of such spirals provides a further enigma, solar symbology notwithstanding. Another surprising aspect of neolithic spirals (though not entirely surprising after what was covered in Section IVc) is that they are also found carved on numerous small stone balls in neighbouring Scotland dating from the same period. The latter appear to include all five "Platonic"solids(see Fig.3b below)

Moreover, Ralph H. Abraham notes that of the five solids represented in the group:

[Bianca]

The first three are generally regarded as Pythagorean and known to the ancient Egyptians. The latter two are usually thought to be discoveries at Plato's Academy. However, it seems they were known to the megalithic people of Scotland, from whom the carved stone balls have come down to us. Some 387 are catalogued by the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. Cf. Dorothy N. Marshall, Carved stone balls, Proc. Soc. Antiquaries Scotland, v. 108 (1976-77) pp. 40-72 .... About the use of these balls: nobody knows. Among the speculations: weights and measures, money or trade objects, ball games, models for the celestial sphere.


(Ralph Abraham.org: Carved stone balls from Scotland; below: tetrahedral sphere)

[Bianca]

Devlin

Member
Member # 3136

Member Rated:
   posted 12-31-2006 07:02 PM                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The spiral is seen all over the ancient world in rock art, but is it simply the most reasonable shape for ancient man to draw, or, perhaps, the work of the same culture?


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Though certainly puzzling, the application of the spiral form in such ancient contexts is not necessarily simplistic, nor can such usage be dismissed out of hand, especially when the "Meaning of Celtic Symbols " (from the now defunct:http://www.seeekers.net/Celtic/meaning_of_celtic_symbols.htm) may be summarized as follows:


1. Both single and double spirals were among the most sacred signs of Neolithic Europe. They appeared on megalithic monuments and temples all over the continent and the Celtic islands.

2. The single spiral is the oldest and most recorded of these motifs. It has symbolized the concept of growth, expansion, and cosmic energy, depending on the culture in which it is used.

3. To the ancient inhabitants of Ireland, the spiral was used to represent their sun.
A tightly wound, clockwise spiral represented their shrinking winter sun.
A loosely wound anti-clockwise spiral represented the large summer sun.

4. The dual centered spiral is also prolific in stone carvings. It has associations with motifs from other cultures such as the Yin Yang symbol. It signifies the duality of nature and balance.

5. Spiral oculi (double twists resembling eyes) appear prominently in places like the threshold stones at Newgrange in Ireland.
A double spiral is used to represent the equinoxes, when day and night are of equal length.

6. The spiral is the cosmic symbol for the natural form of growth; a symbol of eternal life, reminding us of the flow and movement of the cosmos.

7. The passages between the spirals symbolized the divisions between life, death, and rebirth.

8. The whorls represent the continuousness of the creation and dissolution of the world. Creation is not something that occurred once and then stopped.
It is ongoing...a never-ending balanced dance of opposing forces: light and dark, life and death, masculine and feminine, "good and evil", etc..

9. The spiral is an attempt to mirror the macrocosmic order of the heavens, the gyratory movement representing the whirling of the stars above the fixed earth.
Everything whirling about a still center, the heart of the universe, or the womb which will give birth and to which all return.

10. A natural form of spiral can be found in some shells such as snail shells and more notably, the nautilus shell.

11. One school of thought gives significance to the direction of the spirals.
Clockwise or sun-wise circling, a'deasail, is traditional in Gaelic blessing gestures and good-luck practices.
To move sun-wise is to be in harmony with the earth. Conversely geis or spells are made with anti-sun-wise motion.
This gets a little tricky since spirals may be read as either flowing inwards or outwards.
Many spiral arrangements contain equal numbers of whorls going each way and are thus in balance.
The numbers of whorls or the number of arms of spirals can be used as number symbols, the most common being three for the Holy Trinity and four for the Four Directions.
As a side note which may be of interest to you, I would like to add that there is wide speculation that some of the ancient megalithic stone monuments of Europe and British Isles were astronomical observatories and that some symbols were representative of these observations.

12. An American artist by the name of Charles Ross discovered a possible origin of the double spirals:
He performed an experiment where he arranged a lens in front of a wooden plank, so that it focused the sun's rays onto the plank and burned a track on the wood.
Each day he put a new piece of wood on the plank holder and after 366 days he plotted out the pattern the sun's rays had burned on the planks.
He found that the resulting shape was a perfect double spiral.
During the summer the track forms a tight clockwise spiral and during the winter it forms a wide anticlockwise spiral.
At the equinox the track began to straighten out as the loose winter spiral stopped and was transformed into a tight spiral moving the opposite direction. *1*
Interesting, eh? Coincidence, perhaps....you be the judge, but I recommend further research...it is fascinating.
*1*( "Uriels Machine" by Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, page 226, Fair Winds Press. Also see: "The Stones of Time", M. Brennan, Inner Traditions International.).

13. The Triple Spiral or Spiral of Life
This structure is called the spiral of life and was found in a megalithic structure, Newgrange, in Ireland.
The triple spiral was used consistently in Celtic art for 3000 years. The Celts believed that all life moved in eternal cycles, regenerating at each point.
Celts also believed that all important things came in three phases such as birth, death and rebirth and also mind, body and spirit.
Modern researchers theorize that the triple spirals might have represented the human gestation period...What we refer to as "trimesters".

14. The triple spiral later became the Triskele (covered in a separate entry) used in Christian manuscripts.
The triple spiral is also used to represent the triple goddess (maiden, mother, crone, also represented by the waxing, full and waning moon), and triple god.

15. Triple centered spirals were used by the early Christian monks in their illuminated manuscripts. More evidence that the concept of Trinity may have been adopted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



http://www.spirasolaris.ca/sbb4g1.html 

[Bianca]

Devlin

Member
Member # 3136

Member Rated:
   posted 12-31-2006 07:15 PM                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




GREEK

   

-Protogeometric 1000-900 B.C.: pots were decorated with black bands,
wavy lines and simple geometric designs, principally concentric circles and
half-circles drawn with a compass and multiple brush; careful attention was
given to the relationship between the decoration and the shape of the pot.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------



GABON





AUSTRALIA

[Bianca]

Devlin

Member
Member # 3136

Member Rated:
   posted 12-31-2006 07:27 PM                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



THE ALPS



     






Carschenna rock n. 3: concentric circles and solar representation

(photo A. Arcà - Footsteps of Man)



Carschenna engravings are
mainly characterized by concentric circles and cup-marks.
Also riding scenes and schematic horses are well present.

Carschenna concentric circles are identical to the Pontevedra (Spain)
and to the Scottish ones. Likenesses can't be casuals, so they
probably belong to the same culture.

In the Alps we can find
concentric circles in Valcenischia (Western Alps)
and at Sonico (Valcamonica) *.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 



*VALCAMONICA/ITALIAN ALPS ROCK ART:

http://atlantisonline.smfforfree2.com/index.php/topic,7846.0.html

[Bianca]

SPAIN




 
Galicia Spain



All them (cylindrical idols, with or without facial tattoos, daggers, & short swords)
represents models that are found in the archaeological record between the final
decades of the III millennium and the first two or three centuries of the II
millennium Before Christ.

With regard to their meaning, it appears logical to look for a magical/religious explanation,
fulfilling special conditions concerning solar illumination and the non-use of adjacent rocks
that do not fulfil these conditions, like proximity to water. Representations of animal
behaviour, such as mating or the singular emphasis on the sexual attributes of the male
in a disproportionate size, would indicate a rite that is magical - religious, in which
ideas of magic, solar cults, hunting and fertility come into play.

On the other hand,
the representation of the human figure in riding scenes, hunting, wielding metallic
weapons and even the representation of the weapons alone, seems to indicate
the existence of an elite in a society with a clear tendency towards hierarchy
that reaffirms its power through the representation of activities of social prestige.
Hierachisation and social stratification that also appears in the archaeological
record from the same period.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Bianca]

                                                             B O L I V I A





                                                                       

[Bianca]

CUBA ROCK ART

[Bianca]

                                                            C Y P R U S





                                                                       

[Bianca]

Devlin

Member
Member # 3136

Member Rated:
   posted 12-31-2006 07:48 PM                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 




                                                            K O R E A





                                                                     







 
This rock in petroglyphs is located,
not in a closed space or in the room,
in front of very old, small mound
tomb in Dohangri, Haman (Kaya),
near Pusan, Korea.

[Bianca]

A CONCENTRIC CIRCLE
IN CALIFORNIA







Above: Humans have occupied the Zion Canyon
area ( Utah - USA ) for perhaps 7000 years.
Past inhabitants include Archaic, Anasazi, Fremont
and Southern Paiute. Any or all of these groups
may have contributed Rock Art to the Zion area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------





HAWAII



Petroglyphs were carved into lava rock: circles, human figures and turtles.

There were hundreds of concentric circles with a hole in the middle where
ancient Hawaiians put the umbilical cord of their newborns to ensure
long life for their offspring.

[Bianca]

                                                              I R E L A N D

[Bianca]

ROCK ART

AT FUENTE DE LA ZARZA
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS