Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approach

A recently accomplished systematic study of 271 architectural orientations measured at 87 archaeological sites in the Maya Lowlands led to several conclusions about the underlying astronomical motives. In order to test these proposals, we have performed a number of statistical analyses, employing ke...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: González-García, A. César, Šprajc, Ivan
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Data de publicação:2016
País:España
Recursos:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositório:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/392571
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/392571
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84979790728
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Archaeoastronomy
Astronomical orientations
Maya architecture
Maya calendar
Statistical analysis
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spelling Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approachGonzález-García, A. CésarŠprajc, IvanArchaeoastronomyAstronomical orientationsMaya architectureMaya calendarStatistical analysisA recently accomplished systematic study of 271 architectural orientations measured at 87 archaeological sites in the Maya Lowlands led to several conclusions about the underlying astronomical motives. In order to test these proposals, we have performed a number of statistical analyses, employing kernel density estimations (KDEs) and cluster analyses without preconceived ideas on the directionality of the different buildings. Since most buildings have roughly rectangular ground plans, both north-south and east-west orientation axes were analyzed. Our KDE analyses, in which the errors assigned to alignment data were considered, are based on the assumption that the direction in which a particular orientation group was astronomically functional is indicated in histograms by narrower maxima with larger amplitudes. The distribution of azimuths and declinations suggests that the orientations were functional predominantly in the east-west direction, largely referring to the Sun, but the existence of alignments to the major extremes of Venus and the Moon on the horizon is also highly likely. The analyses of the distribution of sunrise and sunset dates corresponding to solar orientations, as well as of the intervening intervals, support the idea that the orientations recorded the dates separated by multiples of 13 and 20 days, allowing the use of easily manageable observational calendars intended to facilitate a proper scheduling of agricultural activities and the associated rituals. As revealed by cluster analyses, the East Coast and the Usumacinta basin share similar orientation trends, which are, however, notably different from those in the rest of the Maya Lowlands, probably reflecting regional variations observed also in other cultural elements.ACGG is a Ramón y Cajal Fellow of the Spanish MINECO. The research project resulting in the alignment data analyzed in this contribution was financed and authorized by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico ("Propiedades astronómicas de la arquitectura y el urbanismo en Mesoamérica", 2010–2015).Peer reviewedElsevier BVMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad (España)Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (México)González-García, A. César [0000-0003-1831-8562]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202520252016info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Postprintinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersionapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/392571https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84979790728reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Ingléshttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.07.020Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/3925712026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approach
title Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approach
spellingShingle Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approach
González-García, A. César
Archaeoastronomy
Astronomical orientations
Maya architecture
Maya calendar
Statistical analysis
title_short Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approach
title_full Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approach
title_fullStr Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approach
title_full_unstemmed Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approach
title_sort Astronomical significance of architectural orientations in the Maya Lowlands: A statistical approach
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv González-García, A. César
Šprajc, Ivan
author González-García, A. César
author_facet González-García, A. César
Šprajc, Ivan
author_role author
author2 Šprajc, Ivan
author2_role author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (México)
González-García, A. César [0000-0003-1831-8562]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Archaeoastronomy
Astronomical orientations
Maya architecture
Maya calendar
Statistical analysis
topic Archaeoastronomy
Astronomical orientations
Maya architecture
Maya calendar
Statistical analysis
description A recently accomplished systematic study of 271 architectural orientations measured at 87 archaeological sites in the Maya Lowlands led to several conclusions about the underlying astronomical motives. In order to test these proposals, we have performed a number of statistical analyses, employing kernel density estimations (KDEs) and cluster analyses without preconceived ideas on the directionality of the different buildings. Since most buildings have roughly rectangular ground plans, both north-south and east-west orientation axes were analyzed. Our KDE analyses, in which the errors assigned to alignment data were considered, are based on the assumption that the direction in which a particular orientation group was astronomically functional is indicated in histograms by narrower maxima with larger amplitudes. The distribution of azimuths and declinations suggests that the orientations were functional predominantly in the east-west direction, largely referring to the Sun, but the existence of alignments to the major extremes of Venus and the Moon on the horizon is also highly likely. The analyses of the distribution of sunrise and sunset dates corresponding to solar orientations, as well as of the intervening intervals, support the idea that the orientations recorded the dates separated by multiples of 13 and 20 days, allowing the use of easily manageable observational calendars intended to facilitate a proper scheduling of agricultural activities and the associated rituals. As revealed by cluster analyses, the East Coast and the Usumacinta basin share similar orientation trends, which are, however, notably different from those in the rest of the Maya Lowlands, probably reflecting regional variations observed also in other cultural elements.
publishDate 2016
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2016
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Postprint
info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
format article
status_str acceptedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/392571
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84979790728
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/392571
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84979790728
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.07.020
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier BV
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier BV
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
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