170
(3600–2900 cal BC), while the Bell Beaker phase could correspond to the last set of
dating during the Bronze Age (1600–1100 cal BC; Arenal & de la Rúa, 1988;
Fernández-Eraso & Mujika-Alustiza, 2013). These data indicate a long history of
construction, and use by local communities. The history appears to be discontinuous with variable intensity in the occupation and several possible moments of closing and reuse.
3 Orientation
According to Michael Hoskin (Hoskin, 2001: 236; see also Table 1), the orientation
of the passage grave is 143°, and the altitude of the horizon in that direction is 0.75°
rendering a declination of −35.8° (see Table 1).
1
Such a declination is way far from
the solar range.
The width of the corridor allows for a window of visibility ranging from azimuths of 131°–166°. The northern extreme of this opening, with a declination of
−29°, would allow the marginal visibility of the lunar southern extreme. However,
any astronomical intentionality connected to the sun or the moon in the horizon of
the orientation of the corridor based on this premises seems a bit far-fetched. In fact,
Hoskin indicated that Hechicera faced the ‘sun long after it had risen and was climbing in the sky, and so we have here a custom that was strictly Sun Climbing’ (Hoskin,
2001: 117).
This declination, though, could coincide with the declination of the Pointers (α
and β Centauri) and the Southern Cross at the moment of building and use of the
passage grave.
Another interesting fact is that the corridor of Chabola is almost perpendicular to
the direction where we can see the Lapoblacion Mountain, a prominent feature of
the local landscape (Fig. 2a, c). The corridor seems to be facing the most distant
horizon as seen from this spot, facing the Sierra de Iregua to the SE, and the slopes
towards the river Ebro valley (Fig. 2d). Finally, it might also be relevant to note that
the prevailing wind in this area runs from east to west, also nearly perpendicular to
the entrance corridor, and the orientation could avoid those winds perhaps providing
shelter to the human remains inside.
Interestingly, the ethnography of the name of this megalith might provide further
relevant information. Most megalithic sites in the Basque country bear names from
the area where they are located after their discovery. However, a few of them where
1 Most of the data was obtained by Michael Hoskin and his collaborators in the 90s (see e.g.
Hoskin, 2001). The data was obtained with an off-shore compass (Hoskin, 2001: 12). The new data
presented in this contribution was obtained with a Suunto 360 professional tandem, with a compass
and clinometer with ¼° accuracy in azimuth and altitude. The new measurements in Table 1 are the
mean of a set of at least five measurements, and while the state of preservation of some of the
dolmens would set a stringent limit on the accuracy of the orientation, we have opted to provide the
figures to the error level of the instruments employed.
A. C. González-García
(3600–2900 cal BC), while the Bell Beaker phase could correspond to the last set of
dating during the Bronze Age (1600–1100 cal BC; Arenal & de la Rúa, 1988;
Fernández-Eraso & Mujika-Alustiza, 2013). These data indicate a long history of
construction, and use by local communities. The history appears to be discontinuous with variable intensity in the occupation and several possible moments of closing and reuse.
3 Orientation
According to Michael Hoskin (Hoskin, 2001: 236; see also Table 1), the orientation
of the passage grave is 143°, and the altitude of the horizon in that direction is 0.75°
rendering a declination of −35.8° (see Table 1).
1
Such a declination is way far from
the solar range.
The width of the corridor allows for a window of visibility ranging from azimuths of 131°–166°. The northern extreme of this opening, with a declination of
−29°, would allow the marginal visibility of the lunar southern extreme. However,
any astronomical intentionality connected to the sun or the moon in the horizon of
the orientation of the corridor based on this premises seems a bit far-fetched. In fact,
Hoskin indicated that Hechicera faced the ‘sun long after it had risen and was climbing in the sky, and so we have here a custom that was strictly Sun Climbing’ (Hoskin,
2001: 117).
This declination, though, could coincide with the declination of the Pointers (α
and β Centauri) and the Southern Cross at the moment of building and use of the
passage grave.
Another interesting fact is that the corridor of Chabola is almost perpendicular to
the direction where we can see the Lapoblacion Mountain, a prominent feature of
the local landscape (Fig. 2a, c). The corridor seems to be facing the most distant
horizon as seen from this spot, facing the Sierra de Iregua to the SE, and the slopes
towards the river Ebro valley (Fig. 2d). Finally, it might also be relevant to note that
the prevailing wind in this area runs from east to west, also nearly perpendicular to
the entrance corridor, and the orientation could avoid those winds perhaps providing
shelter to the human remains inside.
Interestingly, the ethnography of the name of this megalith might provide further
relevant information. Most megalithic sites in the Basque country bear names from
the area where they are located after their discovery. However, a few of them where
1 Most of the data was obtained by Michael Hoskin and his collaborators in the 90s (see e.g.
Hoskin, 2001). The data was obtained with an off-shore compass (Hoskin, 2001: 12). The new data
presented in this contribution was obtained with a Suunto 360 professional tandem, with a compass
and clinometer with ¼° accuracy in azimuth and altitude. The new measurements in Table 1 are the
mean of a set of at least five measurements, and while the state of preservation of some of the
dolmens would set a stringent limit on the accuracy of the orientation, we have opted to provide the
figures to the error level of the instruments employed.
A. C. González-García