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World's oldest observatory found in China
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-10-31 07:05
Chinese archaeologists said they have found the world's oldest
observatory, dating back to some 4,100 years ago, in north China's Shanxi
Province.
The ancient observatory in the Taosi relics site in Shanxi Province is at
least 2,000 years older than the 1,000-year-old observatory built by the Maya in
central America, said He Nu, a research follow with the Institute of Archaeology
of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
He told Xinhua on Sunday that the observatory, built at the end of the
primitive society, "was not only used for observing astronomical phenomena but
also for sacrificial rites."
The remains of the observatory, in the shape of a semicircle 40meters in
diameter in the main observation platform and 60 meters in diameter in the outer
circle, were made by rammed earth in three circles.
Archaeologists inferred that 13 stone pillars, at least four meters tall,
stood on the foundation of the first circle originally, forming 12 gaps between
them.
"The ancient people observed the direction of sunrise through the gaps and
distinguished the different seasons of the year," said He.
In order to test the conjecture, archaeologists spent a year and a half
simulating the observations of the ancients at the site.
To their surprise, the seasons marked by observation at the site were only
one or two days different from the seasonal division of the traditional Chinese
calendar, which is still widely used in rural China.
A forum on the function of the relics site at Taosi was held recently in
Beijing. More than 20 Chinese archaeologists, astronomers and historians
attended the forum.
Most of them share the view that the site is an ancient observatory, and some
of the astronomers believed that it might also be used to observe the moon and
stars.
The Taosi relics site, dated back to 4,300 years ago, is located in Xiangfen
County, Linfen City of Shanxi Province, and covers an area of 3 million square
meters. It is believed to be a settlement of the period of the five legendary
rulers (2,600 BC-1,600 BC) in Chinese history.
Astronomical observation and the making of calendars is regarded as one of
the symbols of the origin of civilization, according to experts.
A historical document says that China had special officials in charge of
astronomical observation as early as the 24th century BC. The discovery of the
ancient observatory in Taosi confirmed the records.
Wang Shouguan, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said China
was at an advanced level in the world in terms of astronomy in ancient times.
"However, we know very little about China's astronomy in the prehistoric
period. The discovery will help the study of ancient astronomy," Wang added.
Experts called on related government departments to make plans to better
protect the site and restore the ancient observatory.
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