World's Oldest Observatory found in China

[Voo]

World's Oldest Observatory
Found In China
Press Trust of India
10-31-5


BEIJING -- Chinese archaeologists claim to have discovered the world's earliest observatory, dating back to some 4,100 years, in North China's Shanxi province.

The ancient observatory in the Taosi relics site is at least 2,000 years older than the 1,000-year-old observatory built by the Mayans in Central America, a research fellow with the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, He Nu said.

He said the observatory built at the end of the primitive society, "was not only used for observing astronomical phenomena but also for sacrificial rites."

To test the conjecture, archaeologists spent a year and a half simulating the observations of the findings at the site. Surprisingly, the seasons marked by their observation are only a few days different from the seasonal division of the traditional Chinese calendar.

The Taosi relics site, dated back to 4,300 years ago, is in Xiangfen county, Linfen city of Shanxi province, and covers an area of 3 m square metres. It is believed to be a settlement during the period of the five legendary rulers (2,600 BC-1,600 BC) in Chinese history.

Astronomical observation and the making of calendars is one of the symbols of the origin of civilisation, according to experts. A historical document says that China had special officials in charge of astronomical observation as early as the 24th century BC. The discovery of the ancient observatory in Taosi confirmed the records, the report said.

Meanwhile, experts have urged the government to make plans to conserve the ancient observatory.