A Unique Solar Marking Construct

Abstract

An assembly of stone slabs on an isolated butte in New Mexico collimates sunlight onto spiral petroglyphs carved on a cliff face. The light illuminates the spirals in a changing pattern throughout the year and marks the solstices and equinoxes with particular images. The assembly can also be used to observe lunar phenomena. It is unique in archeoastronomy in utilizing the changing height of the midday sun throughout the year rather than its rising and setting points. The construct appears to be the result of deliberate work of the Anasazi Indians, the builders of the great pueblos in the area.

Solar Observatory or Allegory? Calakmul's Group E-Type Complex Form and Function

“…Still other cathedrals were oriented toward sunrise on the saint's day they commemorated. In Chaco Canyon, a ray of light shines on the Fajada Butte spiral petroglyph during the summer solstice (Sofaer et al 1979). The significance of architectural assemblages and outdoor religious worship in Mesoamerica is discussed elsewhere (Dowd and Milbrath 2015).…”

An Appraisal of Michael Zeilik's “A Reassessment of the Fajada Butte Solar Marker”

“…Our assignment of the Fajada sites to a particular interval in time is not an implication as Dr Zeilik states (p. S73) but has been explicitly argued (Sofaer et al, 1979(Sofaer et al, , 1980Sofaer and Sinclair, in press). Dr Zeilik says that we did "not consider" (pp.…”

Symbolism and Archaeoastronomy in Prehistory

“…Aveni 1993), or with motifs that are activated, or perhaps animated, through their interaction with sunlight (e.g. Sofaer et al 1979). Many such cases have been the object of critique mostly because of the projection of ethnocentric and anachronistic modern skyscapes unto non-modern peoples (e.g.…”