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Megalithic Navigation

Were megaliths used for marine navigation?

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Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Navigation

Abstract

Growing acceptance that the Neolithic and early Bronze age people who lived on the western shores of the British Isles and of Brittany set up their stone alignments with a precision and purpose hitherto unsuspected (Ref. 1) perhaps permits the collection of data that suggests a way in which they may have been used.
 
 
Many of the assemblages can now be identified as serving some astronomical purpose but others do not have any obvious connection with sun or moon and it is with these that this note is particularly concerned.
 
 
Observation of the circle at Gors Fawr in the Prescilly mountains created the impression that two large outliers in the north east quadrant aligned on the two ends of a distinctive rocky outcrop on the horizon. These two alignments have no obvious astronomical importance but they are the true bearings from the beach at Newport (Pemb.) of the bays of Aberdavon and Porth Neigal on the southern tip of the Lleyn peninsula.

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Written: 1974

 

 

References

Title: Types of Megalithic Monument of the Irish Sea and North Channel Coastline; a study in distribution.
Author(s): Davies, M.
Published in: Antiquaries Journal XXV
Published by: Cambridge Journals
Related web link: More about Types of Megalithic Monument of the Irish Sea and North Channel Coastline; a study in distribution.
Year:1945

Title: Diffusion and Distribution patterns of the Megalithic Monuments of the Irish Sea and North Channel Coastline
Author(s): Davies, M.
Published in: Antiquaries Journal XXVI
Published by: Cambridge Journals
Related web link: More about Diffusion and Distribution patterns of the Megalithic Monuments of the Irish Sea and North Channel Coastline
Year:1946

Title: Ancient Astronomy at the Royal Society
Author(s):
Published in: Nature
Published by: Nature Publishing Group
Related web link: More about Ancient Astronomy at the Royal Society
Year:1972

Title: Conference on Ancient Astronomy at the Royal Society
Author(s):
Published in: Journal for the History of Astronomy
Related web link: More about Conference on Ancient Astronomy at the Royal Society
Year:1973

Title: Reeds Nautical Almanac
Author(s):
Published by: Adlard Coles Nautical
Related web link: More about Reeds Nautical Almanac
Year:

Title: Prehistoric Chamber Tombs of England and Wales
Author(s): Daniel, Glyn
Published by: Cambridge University Press
Related web link: More about Prehistoric Chamber Tombs of England and Wales
Year:1950