The sun, moon and stars of the southern Levant at Gezer and Megiddo: Cultural astronomy in Chalcolithic/Early and Middle Bronze Ages Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Gardner, Sara Lee Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 25/09/2021 23:39:58 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/280233 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overiaps. ProQuest Information and Leaming 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 THE SL'N. MOON AND STARS OF THE SOUTHERN LEVANT AT GEZER AND MEGIDDO: CULTURAL ASTRONOMY IN CHALCOLITHIC/EARLY AND MIDDLE BRONZE AGES by Sara Lee Gardner A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2002 UMI Number; 3073283 (g) UMI UMI Microform 3073283 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Infomnation and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Art)or, Ml 48106-1346 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ® GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, ve certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Sara Lee Gardner entitled THE SUN. MOON AND STARS OF THE SOUTHERN LEVANT ST PFZFR AMD MEGIDDO: CULTURAL ASTRONOMY IN CHALCOLITHIC/EARLY AND MIDDLE BRONZE AGES and recommend chat it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 4/10/200^ Date //- 4/13/2002 J. Edward l-/ria Date 4/12/2002 H. >ii.]kinson Date 4/12/2002 r^ond E. White Date IL '^-co2, Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under ny direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. Dissertation Director Date STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in panial fulfillment of requirements for an ad\ anced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Librar\' to be made available to borrowers under the rules of the Librar>'. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of the source is made. Requests fro permission for extended quotation fi-om or reproduction of this manuscript in w hole or part may be granted by the head of the major depanment or the Dean of the College when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interest of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGN"ED^>^/^ Vy ^ 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The list of people who have innuenced m\ journey to the completion of the dissertation and believed in my ability to make a contribution to the "greater body of knowledge" is overly long—as it should be. LMtimately. the most important person is William G. Dever (Near Eastern Studies), who was willing to support the slightly less than mainstream subject I chose. His support, without which this dissertation would not have been written, has made the journey worthwhile. J. Edward Wright's (Near Eastern Studies) constant challenge that I could do more than I thought, pushed me forward in the textual materials, for w hich I am forever grateful. I thank Raymond E. White (Astronomy), who had the challenge of leaching and guiding me in the rudiments of astronomy, and then helped me to translate those rudiments into viable scholarly descriptions with practical applications. I also want to express my appreciation to Richard H. Wilkinson (Egyptology), who came to my committee at the last minute. His input and support were invaluable. In Israel I thank the W. F. .Albright Institution staff and visiting .scholars for their support and encouragement during my short stay. Particularly. I thank J. Rosenberg for his sur\eying expertise and his willingness to drive to the Negev and Gezer—more than once. His photos are included in this dissertation, and his measurements are the foundation for the exposition on Gezer. Claire R. Farrer introduced me to the field of archao/ethnoastronomy. and when I faltered, gave me the courage to persevere. One group from which I received a copious amount of support, advice, and knowledge was the participants from the International Oxford Conference on Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy. Edwin C. Krupp (Griffith Observatiory) and Steven McCluskey (University of West Virgina) have provided me w ith articles, advice, and opinions on request. I want to thank Bradley E. Shaeffer (University of Texas. Austin) who helped me sort out astronomy, and Anthony F. Aveni (Colgate University) for taking their valuable time lo read my work and to send me comments. The members of the History of •Astronomy list (HASTRO-L) have al.so been extremely valuable to my research by answering questions and providing references; particularly. Gary D. Thompson, an engineer who has compiled an extensive bibliography on ancient western astronomy that he made readily available. Hermann Hunger (University of Vienna) who responded to an unknown student around the world and answered my questions on Mesopotamian astronomy via e-mail, also receives my appreciation for his time, patience, and support. Finally, I thank my children. J. Steven Gardner. H. Christine Lindblom. Leslie J. Christ, and J. Eric Lindblom, who have supported me from the inception to the completion of this journey. They have walked every step of the way with me, listened, encouraged, and believed. Without their love and belief that I could accomplish my goal, my journey would have more arduous and less satisfying. Dedicaled to my children, who are my best friends J. Steven Gardner H. Christine Lindblom Leslie J. Christ J. Eric Lindblom "And there are those who have little and give it all. These arc the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty. There are those who give with joy. and that joy is their reward." The Prophet by Khalil Gibran 1923 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES II LIST OF TABLES 14 ABSTRACT 15 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 16 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND THESIS ORGANIZATION 17 CHAPTER 2: ARCHAEOASTRONOMICAL CONCEPTS 21 The Birth of Paradigm: Modem Methodological Origins 21 •"Green" and "Brown" Archaeoastronomy = Cultural Astronomy 22 Archaeo/Ethnoastronomy Now 32 Great Britain and Europe 34 Mesoamerica 34 Southwest United States 35 Egypt 36 Israel 38 CULTURAL ASTRONOMY 39 Observation. Perception, and Use 39 What is observ ed? What are the instruments of observation? 40 What are the perceptions"! 45 Lunar, solar, and lunisolar calendars in the ancient Near East 46 What is the use of the ohservaiions and perceptions'! 48 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS—continued... SUMMATION 49 ENDNOTES 52 C HAPTER 3; CONTACTS WITH EGYPT AND SYRIA 54 Introduciion 54 Late Chalcolithic/Eariy Bronze Age transition (3400-2900 BCE) and Egypt 54 Early Bronze Age I (EB I: 3300-3100 BCE) and Egypt 55 Early Bronze Age II (3100-2650 BCE) and Egypt 57 Late Chalcolithic/Eariy Bronze Age I (3400-2900 BCE) and Syria 58 ASTRONOMY AND THE LEVANT 59 Religion and Astral Images: Wall Paintings and Artifacts 60 Astral Images: Standing Stones. Sacred Poles, and Stars 64 STANDING STONES IN THE SOUTHERN LEVANT 67 RUJIM EL-HIRI: A CASE STUDY FROM EARLY AND MIDDLE BRONZE AGES 68 The site 68 Astronomical alignments 71 TEMPLE ORIENTATION 75 SUMMATION: PICKING THE TEST SITES 78 ENDNOTES 81 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS—(w/rmz/f J... C HAPTER 4: GEZER 83 Location and Excavation 83 Occupation History 85 THE ST.ANDLN'G STONES OF GEZER 87 The Stones of Gezer 87 Standing stones, public areas and astronomy at Gezer 89 Applying geocentric astronomy to the Standing Stones of Gezer 92 The Stones and Horizon in the draw ings of Cave 30/IV 98 SUMMATION 101 ENDNOTES 103 CHAPTER 5: MEGIDDO 104 Location and Excavation 104 Area BB; The Chalcolithic and Early Bronze cult areas and pavement 106 Occupation and specialization in the Chalcolithic period and the Early Bronze Age 108 ASTRONOMY AND CHALCOLITHIC RELIGION II1 Occurrence and Interpretation of the Lion in Near Eastern Iconography 111 Shoulder ornaments on animals 117 The Lion in the Sky 118 COMETS AND CULTURE RESPONSE 120 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS—cominuecl... How did conicts look to ancient observers? 125 ML L.APIN AND THE CONSTELLATION LEO 127 SUMMATION 133 ENDNOTES 137 CHAPTER 6; SUMMATION.