Document Type Master's Dissertation Author Wade, Richard Peter richwde@iafrica.com URN etd-05052009-174557 Document Title A systematics for interpreting past structures with possible cosmic references in Sub-Saharan Africa Degree MSc(Applied Science) Department Architecture Supervisor
Advisor Name Title Prof G Theron Co-Supervisor Prof R C Fisher Supervisor Keywords
- ethnoastronomy
- tourism
- ancient Africa
- technologies and applied sciences
- oral history
- social sciences
- history
- Gamma-ray astronomy
- computer simulation
- ethno mathematics
- mathematical literacy
- astronomy
- indigenous knowledge systems
- Lemba (culture)
- history
- anthropology
- culture and identity
- agriculture
- archaeology
- historical astronomy
- heritage
- archaeoastronomy
- calendars
- cosmology
- spatial geography
- cultural landscapes
- cave art
- Machema
- Mapungubwe
- stelae
- megaliths
- monoliths
- socialecology
- heritage management
- cultural landscape
- cultural ecology
- heritage conservation
- systematics
- heritage assessment
- entoptic
- cognitive anthropology
- precision agriculture
- indigenous material culture
- Venda
- Shona
- sustainable agriculture
- meteorology
- cognitive
- architecture
- cosmic reference
- neuropsychological theory
- agricultural sciences
- rainmaking
- oral tradition
Date 2009-04-29 Availability unrestricted Abstract This thesis presents a method of identifying astronomical expressionsinherent within the spatial geography, cultural landscapes, and layouts of structures with a view to implementing the systematics in an African context. In determining astronomical codes of the southern African pre - early farmer and metalworking archaeological sites - this review deals with oral tradition, rituals, formative calendars, fertility, meteorites, eclipses, bio-diversity, sustainable agriculture, rainmaking and the general star lore. Conclusions are drawn from the hypothesis that certain structures functioned as astronomical expressions by use of monoliths and other configurations, with specific examples of how these possibilities were drawn from aspects within the Mapungubwe/Zimbabwe Cultural Complex and the preceding riverine cultural formations.
ŠUniversity of Pretoria 2009
Please cite as follows:Wade, R 2009, A systematics for interpreting past structures with possible cosmic references in Sub-Saharan Africa, MSc(Applied Science) dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05052009-174557 >
C153/eo
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28.8 Modem 56K Modem ISDN (64 Kb) ISDN (128 Kb) Higher-speed Access 00dissertation.pdf 969.45 Kb 00:04:29 00:02:18 00:02:01 00:01:00 00:00:05 01chapter4.pdf 880.67 Kb 00:04:04 00:02:05 00:01:50 00:00:55 00:00:04 02appendices1-10.pdf 996.69 Kb 00:04:36 00:02:22 00:02:04 00:01:02 00:00:05 03appendix11.pdf 1.73 Mb 00:07:59 00:04:06 00:03:35 00:01:47 00:00:09 04appendices12-13.pdf 633.63 Kb 00:02:56 00:01:30 00:01:19 00:00:39 00:00:03