Archaeoastronomy

(ANTH 13)

This course is a cross-cultural and historical examination of major world astronomies. We will focus on observational ("naked-eye") astronomy, and the sciences and cosmologies underlying ancient systems of astronomy. By examining astronomical systems, this course will provide insights into the cosmologies of ancient societies, and understanding their uses of astronomy will inform us about many aspects of these cultures. We will contrast the calendrical and navigational astronomies of the ancient Maya, Egypt, China, Babylonia, Polynesia, and ancient and Medieval Europe. This course requires no prior knowledge of astronomy and minimal mathematics. We will also have "observation nights" regularly, where sessions will be held in the evening beneath the starry sky

Timothy King, Anthropologist; Archaeologist; Epigrapher

Timothy King received a PhD in anthropology from Stanford. His regional focus is ancient Mesoamerica, in particular the ancient and modern Maya and the ancient metropolis of Teotihuacán in central Mexico. His work includes the decipherment of the newly discovered writing system at Teotihuacán and the constellation and astronomical systems of the ancient Maya.