Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2022, 10(1), 91-103

Astronomical and sacred aspects of the surrounding landscape at the archaeological monuments of Sayano-Altai (integral approach)

Marsadolov, L.

The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, E-mail: marsadolov@hermitage.ru

Abstract

Over the past five decades in Siberia, archaeologists have not only searched for and excavated new monuments, but also developed new approaches to previously studied archaeological sites – to mounds, calculations, settlements, stone sculptures and petroglyphs. At this time, new types of ancient objects were discovered on the Sayano-Altai mountains – sanctuaries, megaliths, observation astropoints and a giant "zooanthropomorphic sculpture". Sacred features at archaeological sites and sanctuaries can be identified by studying: 1) the surrounding landscape; 2) orientation and marking of sacred objects and paths to them; 3) pictorial images on stones, rocks, objects (main and secondary compositions); 4) the most revered objects are altars, bonfires, images, structures made of stones and steles, water springs, mountain peaks, important for understanding the main purpose of the ancient sanctuary; 5) ancient knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, geometry, embedded in large and small objects. An integral approach allows you to combine ancient knowledge into a single whole.

Keywords: archaeology, astronomy, ethnography, integration, methods, signs, sanctuary, sacredness, landscape, altar.
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References

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