Journal of Geomancy vol. 4 no. 2, January 1980
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Stonehenge was the first major ancient astronomical site investigated by modern man. England and France have numerous other megalithic sites which have distinct similarities to Stonehenge. In the USA, especially New England, there are numerous sites which have been attributed to Iberians and Celts as early as 1000 BCE. Recently, a Stonehenge- type site was determined in Kenya, Africa.
The American Indians also had specialized astronomical structures of stone. The Medicine Wheels, especially the famous Wyoming Medicine Wheel, is one example. The Kivas of the West and Southwest are very similar to Stonehenge. Instead of movable external markers, the early inhabitants relied on a complicated system using internal markers in the walls. Virtually all of these early archaeoastronomical sites determined the solstice.
Recently another discovery in the American Southwest clearly demonstrates that the prehistoric Pueblo Indians had a sophisticated awareness of astronomy. In addition to the six Great Kivas, there is also a unique marker in Chaco Canyon. Situated near the top of a sandstone butte known as Fajada, there is a configuration which indicates noon at the summer solstice. It uses the interplay of light and shadow on and by curved and angled surfaces to achieve the desired effect.
The discoverer, Anna Sofaer, in June 1977, found a carved spiral petroglyph just below the upper ledge of the 430 foot butte. While examining it, she observed a narrow beam of light suddenly begin to move vertically down through the spiral to the right of the center. This ‘dagger-shaped’ beam was created by the passage of light down through the small openings between two or three slabs of rock. It was eight days after Summer Solstice – at noon.
On June 21, 1978, summer solstice, a team of experts were present and established that the dagger moved precisely through the very center of the petroglyph at noon. The investigators demonstrated, that “the light formation is dramatically vertical at Solstice time, is centered in the spiral in its descending movement at Solstice time, remains consistently shaped in downward-pointing dagger form, is created by doubly curved surfaces and maintains its primarily perpendicular motion at Solstice for about 35 minutes.”
According to some experts, the origin of the marker “most probably dates back 800–1000 years”. It has been said that “the monumental quality of this solar construct reflects the profound beauty of ancient Pueblo architecture”.
In summary, experts have stated that “this solar construct is unique among archao-findings reported to date: as a midday solstice recording process utilizing a device of great geometric complexity and precision.”