Anthropology lecture series continues with ‘Rock Art and Southwest Archaeoastronomy’

By Lori Dugan
Eastern Arizona College

What is the “sun dagger?” How were ancient Anasazi peoples able to track the complicated 18.6-year lunar standstill cycle? Where did the Chacoans report on the supernova that resulted in the Crab Nebula? Did the Anasazi record the passing of Halley’s comet in 1066 AD?

As part of Eastern Arizona College’s Discover Anthro-pology lecture series, Dean Harry Swanson will present a free slide show and lecture entitled “Rock Art and Southwest Archaeoastron-omy” on Oct. 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Jupiter Room on the college’s Discovery Park Campus.

This subject is delivered in response to requests made by participants of previous programs and will explore the expanding presumption that ancient Native American sky watchers tracked and recorded pivotal astronomical events in their constructions and rock art. Recent discoveries related to summer and winter solstice, supernovas and planet tracking will be briefly explored. This is a relatively new and rapidly growing topic of interest in Southwest archaeology. The community is invited to come and share some of what is now believed to be true about the meticulous recording of celestial happenings by the ancient peoples of our Southwest.

“We had 31 people at the “Petroglyphs and Picto-graphs” lecture last month,” Swanson said. “Each time we hold a lecture, the number in attendance grows! There seems to be an insatiable thirst for this knowledge in the Gila Valley.”

For more information about this comprehensive culture lecture series or about Discovery Park Campus call 428-6260.