[1607.02215] Dawes Review 5: Australian Aboriginal Astronomy and Navigation

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arXiv:1607.02215 (astro-ph)

[Submitted on 8 Jul 2016 (v1), last revised 2 Aug 2016 (this version, v2)]

Title:Dawes Review 5: Australian Aboriginal Astronomy and Navigation

Authors:Ray P. Norris<br>View a PDF of the paper titled Dawes Review 5: Australian Aboriginal Astronomy and Navigation, by Ray P. Norris

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Abstract:The traditional cultures of Aboriginal Australians include a significant astronomical component, perpetuated through oral tradition, ceremony, and art. This astronomical knowledge includes a deep understanding of the motion of objects in the sky, which was used for practical purposes such as constructing calendars and for navigation. There is also evidence that traditional Aboriginal Australians made careful records and measurements of cyclical phenomena, recorded unexpected phenomena such as eclipses and meteorite impacts, and could determine the cardinal points to an accuracy of a few degrees. Putative explanations of celestial phenomena appear throughout the oral record, suggesting traditional Aborig- inal Australians sought to understand the natural world around them, in the same way as modern scientists, but within their own cultural context. There is also a growing body of evidence for sophisticated navigational skills, including the use of astronomically based songlines. Songlines are effectively oral maps of the landscape, and are an efficient way of transmitting oral navigational skills in cultures that do not have a written language. The study of Aboriginal astronomy has had an impact extending beyond mere academic curiosity, facilitating cross-cultural understanding, demonstrating the intimate links between science and culture, and helping students to engage with science.

Comments:<br>Accepted by PASA. This version contains minor modifications

Subjects:

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph)

Cite as:<br>arXiv:1607.02215 [astro-ph.IM]

(or<br>arXiv:1607.02215v2 [astro-ph.IM] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1607.02215

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arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite

Related DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1017/pasa.2016.25

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Submission history<br>From: Ray Norris [view email]<br>[v1]<br>Fri, 8 Jul 2016 02:41:42 UTC (6,992 KB)

[v2]<br>Tue, 2 Aug 2016 11:57:18 UTC (6,995 KB)

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