On the orientation of historic Christian churches of Fuerteventura: conciliating tradition, winds and topography

TL;DR

This study analyzes the spatial orientation of 48 historic Christian churches in Fuerteventura, revealing patterns influenced by tradition, topography, and astronomical events, with implications for understanding cultural and religious practices.

Contribution

It provides a detailed statistical analysis of church orientations in Fuerteventura, identifying two distinct groups with different possible cultural and astronomical influences.

Findings

Most churches are oriented within the solar range.

Two groups show distinct orientation patterns: one towards -14° declination, another slightly north of due east.

Possible links to local traditions, topography, and astronomical events like Sirius and Easter.

Abstract

We present the results of an analysis of the precise spatial orientation of colonial Christian churches located in the Canary Island of Fuerteventura (Spain). Our sample consists of 48 churches, most built during the period between the Castilian conquest led by the Norman Jean de B\'ethencourt in the 15th century and the end of the 19th century. We examine whether the standard tradition was followed regarding the orientation of the apses of historic churches eastwards. While most of the religious constructions in the sample have their main axes oriented within the solar range, the statistical analysis also reveals the presence of two different groups of churches with different possible interpretations. For the first group, mainly composed of churches located in the central part of the island, an anomalous tendency to orientate them towards a declination of c. -14 degrees is detected. We provide some possible explanations for this, which include the date of a traditional Canarian celebration, an eventual imprint of topography, and the possibility of sunset orientations. Also, this particular value of declination is close to -16.3 degrees, the declination of Sirius during the 17th century. Therefore, we provide ethnographic data that might support an eventually controversial 'bright star' orientation. For the second group, meanwhile, we find a pattern of orientation where the apse of the churches points slightly to the north of due east. We propose this might signal constructions that were oriented to the rising Sun on dates close to Easter, one of the most important festivities of Christianity.