Scientists have found evidence for ancient astronomical activities all over the world. They all show that early humans recognized the cycles of celestial objects in the sky. Ancient cultures around the world have left monumental structures which helped to observe and record observations and measurements of the sun, moon, and stars. Skywatchers of the past were usually the priests of the community. They studied the heavens in order to time rituals and festivals, to predict the future, and to determine agricultural cycles. They searched for patterns and cycles in the heavens which might provide insights on how to live life on earth.

Nabta - In the Sahara Desert in Egypt lie the oldest known astronomically aligned stones in the world: Nabta. Over one thousand years before the creation of Stonehenge, local herders built a stone circle and other structures on the shoreline of a lake that has long since dried up. Over 6000 years ago, stone slabs three meters high were dragged over a kilometer to create the site. Shown to the right is one of the stones that remains. Little is known about the ultimate purpose of Nabta and the nature of the people who built it.

Stonehenge - Located on the Salisbury plain in England, another ancient site that was probably built to make observations of the sky is Stonehenge. Investigations over the last 100 years have revealed that Stonehenge was built in several stages from 2800 - 1800 BC. It seems to have been designed to allow for the observation of astronomical phenomena - summer and winter solstices, eclipses, and more.

The Mayans - Archaeological records show that the Mayan Indians who flourished in present day Mexico and central America were highly skilled in observations of the sky. The Mayan building pictured is "Caracol" in the ancient city of Chichen Itza. Many parts of the building align with certain stars or planets during astronomical events.

People over the centuries have used celestial objects to predict the best time to plant crops and harvest foods. The study of the night sky helped man to better understand his place in the world in which he lived.

1. Ancient people left monumental ____ which they used to observe the sky.

burial plots
structures
carvings
pyramids

2. By studying the night sky they were better able to predict the best time to ____ .

pray to their gods
go hunting
plan the fall festival to their gods
plant and harvest their crops

3. Nabta was built over ____ years ago.

2000
3000
5000
6000

4. Nabta is located in which middle eastern country?

Egypt
Syria
Iraq
Jordan

5. Where is Stonehenge located?

the Great Plains
Scotland
on the Salisbury Plain
Wales

6. Stonehenge seems to have been used for the observation of?

the tides
astronomical phenomena
migrating animals
invading tribes

7. Stonehenge was built between ____ BC.

2900-2700
2200-2100
2700-1700
2800-1800

8. The ____ Indians were highly skilled in their observations of the sky.

Mayan
Incan
Aztec
Chima

9. The building called ____ was located in Chichen Itza and was used for astronomical observations.

Caracol
Mayan
Aztec
Chima

10. Observations and the study of the night sky is called ____ ?

geology
astronomy
physics
astrology

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