12/04/2025
Ancient stone arrangements in Australia, built by Aboriginal astronomers over 11,000 years ago, tracked the movements of the sun with remarkable precision. The Wurdi Youang stone circle in Victoria marked the exact positions of the setting sun during summer and winter solstices.
These stone formations weren't just monuments - they were sophisticated astronomical tools that helped Indigenous peoples predict seasonal changes and weather patterns crucial for survival. The arrangements were so precise they could determine cardinal directions within just a few degrees.
Similar ancient astronomical knowledge was found across the Pacific. Polynesian navigators used the stars to voyage vast ocean distances, while in Peru, Indigenous peoples built structures that could detect leap years through carefully aligned solar projections.
Perhaps most remarkably, many of these astronomical systems are still in use today. In Ethiopia, the Borana Oromo pastoralists continue their ancient tradition of using star positions to forecast weather patterns and make critical decisions about their livestock and livelihoods.
Sources: Aboriginal Astronomy Research, BBC Earth, Science Friday
