On the orientation of pre-islamic temples of north Africa : a re-appraisal (new data in Africa proconsularis)
Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.6, No.3, 2006, pages 77-85
Issue:
Pages:
77-85
Section Title:
Articles
Abstract:
Since the late 1990s, our research group has embarked on a systematic archaeoastronomical studyof archaeological sites in the Maghreb. Earlier campaigns were devoted to Tunisia, Morocco and Libya(see e.g. Belmonte et al. 1998, 1999 and 2002). In this short report, we will present part of the dataobtained in a field campaign carried out in winter 2002, analysing the results yielded on nearly 50ancient sacred structures (temples, churches, earlier mosques and mausoleums) of an extended areain Northern Tunisia (ancient Africa Proconsularis). These data were not discussed in previous reportson similar structures (e.g. Esteban et al. 2001), although, in a previous paper (Belmonte et al. 2003),we reported our results on the contemporary measured megalithic monuments. This paper will presentthe data of more than 30 temples and mausoleums of Roman era, 10 pre-islamic Christian churchesand a few earlier mosques. These new data will be discussed together with those obtained in previouscampaigns in an attempt to shed some light on the possibility of astronomical alignments withinthis extended set of monuments (more than a hundred). Our results show that some astronomical patternscould be identified. Several structures were oriented towards declinations close to the equinoctialand could be interpreted as solar ones. Interestingly, this solar tendency was continued by Christianchurches until the arrival of Islam. This is a common feature to other regions of early Christianity(see e.g. Romano, 1992). Other curious patterns, including the planning of important cities, couldpresumably be associated to the brightest stars of the sky, Sirius and Canopus. Finally, we will analysehow this astronomical tendencies managed to survive within the first Islamic orienting traditions.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Archaeoastronomy, Orientations, Roman temples, Early Christian churches, Muslim mosques
