At Chaco Canyon's Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, ancient spiral petroglyphs create different light patterns at each season. Summer solstice sends one dagger through the main spiral, winter sends two flanking it. The site also tracks the moon's standstill cycle. Was this deliberate design?
Painted Rock Petroglyph Site is a large butte formation in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
USAarchaeoastronomy
Key facts
- Painted Rock Petroglyph Site is a large butte formation in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
- Contains two carved spiral petroglyphs on interior rock face
- Research conducted by Anna Safara and team through the solstice project
- On equinox at midday: two daggers of sunlight cast (one right of spiral center, one through smaller spiral center)
- On summer solstice at midday: one dagger of sunlight passes through center of main spiral
- On winter solstice at midday: two daggers of sunlight positioned either side of spiral
- Researchers uncertain whether boulders were carved to allow sunlight passage or if natural feature with later spiral carvings
- Solar/lunar markings at rising: sun and moon illuminate entire double spiral at equinox
- During minor lunar standstill: half of spiral illuminated with straight line across
- During major lunar standstill: opposite side of spiral illuminated
- Site represents sophisticated understanding of lunar cycles including 18.6-year standstill cycle
Site mentioned
Sources
megalithomania.co.uk
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