58
(Fig. 5) lie at more distant points that define the horizon, varying from 40 to 50 km
from the First Mesa villages.
Since the highest points on elevation profiles in the directions of sunrise on the
recorded planting dates indicate that the points defining the horizon on those dates
lie at similar distances, it can be assumed that those named horizon markers which
have not been precisely identified also lie on the distant horizon. This continuous
series of ten distant horizon markers is admirably suited for highly precise observations anticipating the solstice.
5
5 It is worth noting that a change of the observer’s position by 800 m (the distance from Red Cape,
at the south end of Walpi, to Hano Village) changes the azimuth of these markers by less than 0.6°.
Fig. 4 First Mesa Planting Markers. Google Earth ground view; vertical exaggeration 3:1. White
lines indicate planting markers, either computed from dates of plantings in 1921 (Crow Wing,
1925) or other identified markers
Fig. 5 Map of region of First Mesa Horizon Markers. Lines from First Mesa indicate cosmological direction markers, reading counter-clockwise from four o’clock position: winter solstice sunrise marker, summer solstice sunrise anticipatory marker, summer solstice sunset marker, and
winter solstice sunset anticipatory marker (in San Francisco Peaks 127 km to the southwest).
Shaded area indicates the general region of Balakai Mesa where calendar markers have been identified. Base map shows contour intervals in feet; from USGS, The National Map
S. C. McCluskey
(Fig. 5) lie at more distant points that define the horizon, varying from 40 to 50 km
from the First Mesa villages.
Since the highest points on elevation profiles in the directions of sunrise on the
recorded planting dates indicate that the points defining the horizon on those dates
lie at similar distances, it can be assumed that those named horizon markers which
have not been precisely identified also lie on the distant horizon. This continuous
series of ten distant horizon markers is admirably suited for highly precise observations anticipating the solstice.
5
5 It is worth noting that a change of the observer’s position by 800 m (the distance from Red Cape,
at the south end of Walpi, to Hano Village) changes the azimuth of these markers by less than 0.6°.
Fig. 4 First Mesa Planting Markers. Google Earth ground view; vertical exaggeration 3:1. White
lines indicate planting markers, either computed from dates of plantings in 1921 (Crow Wing,
1925) or other identified markers
Fig. 5 Map of region of First Mesa Horizon Markers. Lines from First Mesa indicate cosmological direction markers, reading counter-clockwise from four o’clock position: winter solstice sunrise marker, summer solstice sunrise anticipatory marker, summer solstice sunset marker, and
winter solstice sunset anticipatory marker (in San Francisco Peaks 127 km to the southwest).
Shaded area indicates the general region of Balakai Mesa where calendar markers have been identified. Base map shows contour intervals in feet; from USGS, The National Map
S. C. McCluskey