Solar eclipse represented in the petroglyphs of Vigirima (Venezuela)
Submitted: 2015-11-19
|Accepted: 2015-11-19
|Published: 2013-05-20
Downloads
Keywords:
Astronomy, History, Petroglyphs, Ancient ethnology
Supporting agencies:
Abstract:
The Vigirima archaeological complex is characterised by the abundant presence of lithic sites whose age is unknown. The land registry of the petroglyphs, the revision of the techniques and styles used in its execution and the classification of the symbols in terms of the figurative characteristics has been done.
Using archaeo-astronomic techniques some petroglyphs considered to contain astronomical content have been analysed and it was concluded that they corresponded to the total eclipse of the sun, which took place in 577 AC. Following that, the construction of a cultural model showing the possible significance of the petroglyphs as archetypal expressions of the socio-cultural structure of the ethnic groups who created them, was proposed.
References:
CRUXENT, J. M. & ROUSE, I (1961): Arqueología cronológica de Venezuela. Unión Panamerica, Washington.
DELGADO, Y.; LEÓN, O.; FALCÓN, N.; BHASKARAN, P. & DELGADO, R.G. (2000): “Análisis Estilístico de los Petroglifos del Complejo Arqueológico Vigirima”. Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales, n° 151, tomo XLVI, pp. 109-117.
DELGADO DE S., Y; LEÓN, O; FALCÓN, N. (2005): “Museo Arqueológico de Vigirima”, en Turismo y Sociedad, vol. I, nº 4, pp. 125- 131.
FALCÓN, N.; LEÓN, O. & DELGADO, Y. (2000): “Acerca de los signos y significantes de los petroglifos de Vigirima”, en Mañongo, 15, vol. VII, pp. 299-316.
LEÓN, O.; DELGADO, Y. & FALCÓN, N. (2000): “Los petroglifos y Cosmogonía prehispánica en la Cuenca del Lago de Valencia”, en Revista FACES. Universidad de Carabobo, Año 9, nº 8, pp. 37-50.
OPPOLZER, T. (1962): Canon of Eclipses. Dover Publications, Inc. New York.
SUJO, J. (1975): El estudio del Arte Rupestre en Venezuela, Ediciones UCAB, Caracas. Venezuela.
