64
Crow Wing’s (1920–1921) manuscript names this “stone fall planting,” which may
indicate the scatter of boulders below a rocky mound.
4.10 Natalö
i
tstix (Rock Hole Through Planting)
Parsons glosses this marker as Perforated Rock. Since the Sun moves very slowly
along the horizon in the days leading up to the solstice, this planting marker is not
very far from the previous Rock Hill planting. It is probably a particular mound in
the group of rocky mounds associated with Rock Hill planting.
5 Archaeological and Ethnographic Correlates
Such a well-documented and well-defined set of horizon markers identifies attributes of horizon markers that can, in turn, be used as correlates for evaluating other
sites that archaeological studies suggest may have been used to establish a horizon
calendar. We will consider three such correlates for which the Hopi horizon markers
provide evidence. The first is the distance of purported horizon markers from the
observer; the second is the form or shape of the markers, which is related to the
markers’ perceptibility and precision; and the third are the markers’ names, which
only become applicable when we have ethnographic or historical evidence for the
names that can be traced back to the culture associated with the markers.
5.1 Distance as an Archaeological Correlate
If we consider the distance to the planting markers as a means to identify potential
archaeoastronomical sites, we find that the distance to these markers depends on the
topography of the particular village where the Sun-watcher makes his observations.
At Walpi on First Mesa, the distance to the planting markers ranges from about
40–50 km. At Shungopavi on Second Mesa, which shares a number of planting
markers with Walpi, the few identified markers are from 55 to 75 km distant. The
recorded sunrise and sunset planting markers at Oraibi on Third Mesa, which have
not been identified precisely but are only located in general on the nearby ridges that
define the local horizon, are only some 6–12 km from the village. Finally, some
well-attested cosmological horizon markers have been found to be as distant as
127 km from Walpi Pueblo (McCluskey, 1990: S5–S7). Although the distance to the
Hopi calendar markers varies significantly with the topography surrounding the particular village, the markers are consistently on the most distant visible ridge.
The great distance to the markers enables more precise observations of the direction of sunrise or sunset, and consequently of the day when the Sun arrives at this
S. C. McCluskey
Crow Wing’s (1920–1921) manuscript names this “stone fall planting,” which may
indicate the scatter of boulders below a rocky mound.
4.10 Natalö
i
tstix (Rock Hole Through Planting)
Parsons glosses this marker as Perforated Rock. Since the Sun moves very slowly
along the horizon in the days leading up to the solstice, this planting marker is not
very far from the previous Rock Hill planting. It is probably a particular mound in
the group of rocky mounds associated with Rock Hill planting.
5 Archaeological and Ethnographic Correlates
Such a well-documented and well-defined set of horizon markers identifies attributes of horizon markers that can, in turn, be used as correlates for evaluating other
sites that archaeological studies suggest may have been used to establish a horizon
calendar. We will consider three such correlates for which the Hopi horizon markers
provide evidence. The first is the distance of purported horizon markers from the
observer; the second is the form or shape of the markers, which is related to the
markers’ perceptibility and precision; and the third are the markers’ names, which
only become applicable when we have ethnographic or historical evidence for the
names that can be traced back to the culture associated with the markers.
5.1 Distance as an Archaeological Correlate
If we consider the distance to the planting markers as a means to identify potential
archaeoastronomical sites, we find that the distance to these markers depends on the
topography of the particular village where the Sun-watcher makes his observations.
At Walpi on First Mesa, the distance to the planting markers ranges from about
40–50 km. At Shungopavi on Second Mesa, which shares a number of planting
markers with Walpi, the few identified markers are from 55 to 75 km distant. The
recorded sunrise and sunset planting markers at Oraibi on Third Mesa, which have
not been identified precisely but are only located in general on the nearby ridges that
define the local horizon, are only some 6–12 km from the village. Finally, some
well-attested cosmological horizon markers have been found to be as distant as
127 km from Walpi Pueblo (McCluskey, 1990: S5–S7). Although the distance to the
Hopi calendar markers varies significantly with the topography surrounding the particular village, the markers are consistently on the most distant visible ridge.
The great distance to the markers enables more precise observations of the direction of sunrise or sunset, and consequently of the day when the Sun arrives at this
S. C. McCluskey