Did Prehistoric People Watch the Stars Through This 6,000 Year Old ‘Telescope’?

Prehistoric humans may have observed the sky via primitive lens-less “telescopes,” according to a team of British astronomers who have studied the long passageways of ancient megalithic tombs. The details were presented today by Kieran Simcox, a student at Nottingham Trent University, at a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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CrazyNeutrino said:

Did Prehistoric People Watch the Stars Through This 6,000 Year Old ‘Telescope’?

Prehistoric humans may have observed the sky via primitive lens-less “telescopes,” according to a team of British astronomers who have studied the long passageways of ancient megalithic tombs. The details were presented today by Kieran Simcox, a student at Nottingham Trent University, at a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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Does 6000 years ago count as prehistory?

Calling these passages telescopes when they don’t provide any magnification seems like a little bit of a beat-up.

But the use of long passages in megalithic tombs for astronomical observations has been known of for ages, so I’m not sure what is new in this report.

The Rev Dodgson said:

CrazyNeutrino said:

Did Prehistoric People Watch the Stars Through This 6,000 Year Old ‘Telescope’?

Prehistoric humans may have observed the sky via primitive lens-less “telescopes,” according to a team of British astronomers who have studied the long passageways of ancient megalithic tombs. The details were presented today by Kieran Simcox, a student at Nottingham Trent University, at a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society.

more…

Does 6000 years ago count as prehistory?

Calling these passages telescopes when they don’t provide any magnification seems like a little bit of a beat-up.

But the use of long passages in megalithic tombs for astronomical observations has been known of for ages, so I’m not sure what is new in this report.

So it’s more they were nice and dark and perhaps focussed your eyes on one particular point in the sky

TATE says that pre-history ended in 3200 BC in Egypt, and 1900 AD in New Guinea, so on that basis 4000 BC in northern Europe would be pre-history.

I, too, think it is fair to call 4000 BC Europe prehistoric.

Your other objections appear sound. This is not a telescope and this is not a fundamentally groundbreaking discovery.

> Does 6000 years ago count as prehistory?

“History” officially starts with the invention of writing. Everything before that is prehistory.
So, for instance, the is no history of Aboriginal people in Australia before the arrival of Europeans.

mollwollfumble said:

> Does 6000 years ago count as prehistory?

“History” officially starts with the invention of writing. Everything before that is prehistory.
So, for instance, the is no history of Aboriginal people in Australia before the arrival of Europeans.

Would not be so bad, if you did not really believe it. Why do you make so many stupid statements?