A pair of researchers report they have identified an ancient celestial map carved on a circular stone at an Italian Bronze Age hillfort. But having taken several leaps of faith, and lacking a probability study, is their claim perhaps a side result of “the selection effect”?
Relic From a Really Ancient Hillfort
Rupinpiccolo, is a village in the Italian province of Trieste, in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Overlooking this settlement, Rupinpiccolo Castle is a fortified hillfort dating back to the Middle Bronze Age (1800 to 1650 BC). Archaeology shows the hilltop was occupied continually until the Iron Age, and that the defensive site functioned until the 5th century AD, at which time it was abandoned.
The Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), recently announced the discovery of two large circular stones at the hillfort entrance. Measuring 50 centimeters (19.68 in) in diameter, according to Paolo Molaro from INAF, and researchers from the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and ICTP, one of the stones “is a representation of the sun, while the other is a carved celestial map dated to the 4th century BC”.
Delineating the Alleged Ancient Celestial Map
A new research paper has been published in the German astronomy magazine “ Astronomische Nachrichten,” in which the two authors present an alleged celestial map which they claim depicts the sky above Rupinpiccolo as seen around 2,500-years-ago. They claim their…
