Cultural astronomy

Archaeoastronomy is the study of beliefs and practices relating to the sky in the past, especially in prehistory, and the uses to which people’s knowledge of the skies was put.

       
Journals, present and past

Cultural astronomy is the combination of archaeoastronomy and ethnoastronomy, which relates to contemporary cultures.


Professional bodies

The 3-volume Springer Handbook contains 217 chapters on themes, issues, methods and practice, and case studies by authors from around the world.

You might also be interested in some of the materials to be found on cultural-astronomy.com.

Publications

         

The lists of my books and selected papers and articles contain links and downloadable copies where available.

Some major publications

Springer Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy

This three-volume reference work aims to provide a definitive picture of the state of art of research in this field, and to be a reliable and wide-ranging source regarding theory, method, interpretation, and best practice.

Published by Springer in both electronic and printed form, it is suitable for academic readers and researchers regardless of their disciplinary expertise, and is also accessible to students and serious general readers.

Read more: HBAE

Ancient Astronomy: an Encyclopaedia of Cosmologies and Myth

This book aims to help the general reader distinguish sound evidence and key themes of archaeoastronomy from unsupported speculation and common misconceptions.

Its over 200 entries include a broad selection of case studies worldwide, some famous, some much less known. It also provides critical assessments of a range of facts and theories together with explanations of concepts and tools so that the reader can critically examine new evidence and claims for themselves.

Read more: ABC-CLIO

Advancing Cultural Astronomy

Studies In Honour of Clive Ruggles

Edited by Efrosyni Boutsikas, Stephen C. McCluskey and John Steele

Springer have published this collection of essays on cultural astronomy in 2021 in their “Historical and Cultural Astronomy” series.

Read more: Advancing Cultural Astronomy

Astronomy in Prehistoric Britain and Ireland

Published by Yale University Press in 1999, this book is now out of print but copies may still be available from amazon or specialist bookshops.

Read more: APBI

Astronomical heritage

The UNESCO–IAU Portal to the Heritage of Astronomy contains a wide range of examples of different types of astronomical heritage together with information relevant to its protection, conservation, evaluation, management and promotion.

The two ICOMOS–IAU Thematic Studies on Astronomical Heritage address key issues on a global scale through thematic essays and case studies.

No. 1 (2010): See here for more information or click here to download a copy

No. 2 (2017): See here for more information or click here to download a copy

Astronomical World Heritage: Download a copy of an article published in A&G (Aug 2019)

Alice Ruggles Trust

If you are looking for things related to Alice and/or information about stalking, please visit the Alice Ruggles Trust website