Astronomy and social integration : an examination of astronomy in a hunter and gatherer society

Abstract

Archaeoastronomical investigations at LAn-357, Burro Flats (sites Ven-551-Ven561), and Bell Canyon (sites LAn-413 and LAn-511) revealed evidence strongly suggesting that these sites were astronomically significant for both the Chumash and Fernandeno groups which occupied the west San Fernando Valley at the time of historic contact. Field research conducted at these sites during the winter and summer solstices of 1979-1980 revealed sunrise and sunset alignments which are believed to be ritually significant, as well as perhaps calendrically important. Two types of astronomical solstitial alignments were discovered within the study area: (1) direct alignments, documented for LAn-357, Burro Flats and Bell Canyon, and (2) indirect alignments, documented at Burro Flats. LAn-357 and Burro Flats are village/habitation sites which consist of numerous rock art loci--pictographs and petroglyphs. Bell Canyon consists of an historic village (Huwam - LAn-413) and an ethnohistoric shrine (Tswaya tsuqele - LAn-511) used for the Winter Solstice Ceremony. This thesis combines archaeoastronomical data, rock art interpretation and an intensive review of the ethnographic/ ethnohistoric literature in an attempt to analyze the significance of these alignments in reference to Chumash and Fernandeno ceremonialism.