Arhaeoastronomical analysis of Levinsadovka sacrificial complex (South Russia)

TL;DR

This study uses innovative arhaeoastronomical methods, including terrain elevation analysis, to identify astronomical alignments in the Levinsadovka sacrificial complex, revealing lunar significance and semiotic links to meteorites and thunderstones.

Contribution

Introduces a new terrain elevation accounting method in arhaeoastronomy and identifies lunar and astronomical regularities in the Levinsadovka complex.

Findings

Stone tools align with northern minor standstill moonrise.

Astronomical regularities found in sacrificial complex organization.

Semiotic links between stone tools, meteorites, and thunderstones.

Abstract

The article presents research data using arhaeoastronomical methods of Levinsadovka settlement sacrificial complex in Northern Black Sea coast. In this work, new method of accounting terrain elevations using topographic maps was developed in arhaeoastronomical studies. Calculations of azimuths of the sun and moon rise and set in the astronomically significant moments of the year were made and astronomical regularities in the organization of the sacrificial complex identified. Related to the moon directions, as the most dedicated, identified. Revealed that the stone tools and fragments, used as sacrifices, mark the direction to the northern minor standstill moonrise. A similar situation was found on two archaeological sites: in Bezymennoye II settlement South sanctuary and in Pustynka settlement religious building. Drawing on ethnographic and folklore data, it is concluded about semiotic connection of stone tools, found in these religious constructions, with the "thunderstones" and meteorites.ut semiotic connection of stone tools, found in these religious constructions, with the "thunderstones" and meteorites.