Archaeoastronomical analysis of the burial assemblage with circular small ditches and joining banks (Kobyakovo necropolis)

Abstract

The article presents the results of archaeoastronomical analysis of the burial assemblage with burials 1 and 10, surrounded by circular small ditches with jumpers, dating the first centuries AD. For the study was used a refined method of archaeoastronomical analysis, comprising carrying out iteration on the calculation of azimuths based on visible profile of the horizon, obtained by HeyWhatsThat program and given the atmospheric refraction near the horizon, which is calculated using the empirical formula Bennett. The results of archaeoastronomical analysis showed that in planigraphy of burial assemblage with burials 1 and 10, having a circular small ditchs, astronomical regularities are observed, but to a much lesser extent than in the burial assemblage with a rectangular trench. The article presents a comparative analysis of the astronomical regularities, manifested in complexes with rectangular and circular ditches. These types of complexes are compared with the ancient Vedic altars in the article as well. As a result, the article represented the conclusion about the possible kinship of representations of Meotian tribes and the Vedic Indians about the location of "the kingdom of the dead" in the South - between the sunrise and sunset at the winter solstice and the "path to the gods" in the North - between the sunrise and sunset in the summer solstice, and the conclusion about a similar perception of Meotians and the ancient Indians the symbolism of ritual round and rectangular areas / trenches as symbols of earthly and heavenly the worlds, respectively.

Keywords

• burial assemblage
• burial
• maeotians
• small ditch
• joining bank
• necropolis
• hillfort
• kobyakovo
• archaeoastronomy