The Orientation of Danish Passage Graves
2008; Wiley; Volume: 79; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.1600-0390.2008.00115.x
ISSN1600-0390
AutoresClaus Clausen, Ole Einicke, Per Kjærgaard,
Tópico(s)Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
ResumoWe have measured the directions of the entrance passages for 51 passage graves situated mainly on north Zealand. Together with previously published measurements, the combined sample of 105 entrance directions shows a strong preference for the azimuth directions of 100° and 120°. Nearly all directions fall within the azimuths for the rising sun or the (full) moon. From clusters of passage graves, we find a very strong tendency for the entrance passage to point towards another passage grave or dolmen. We discuss our findings in terms of three hypotheses: in terms of the rising sun; the rising full moon; and the rising full moon before an eclipse. Taking all the evidence into consideration, we tend to favour a lunar hypothesis for the entrance directions.
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