10 great ancient ruins that track the heavens, from Woodhenge to Chichen Itza
As they have for centuries, ancient ruins around the globe aligned with the sun this month. Like fine-tuned Swiss watches, they marked the solstice, indicating the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. Researchers and travelers are paying more attention to these archaeoastronomy sites, which operate like giant calendars to note the passing seasons. “It’s something human beings have always done. They were keenly interested in the patterns of nature,” says Ken Taylor, author of "Celestial Geometry: Understanding the Astronomical Meanings of Ancient Sites" (Watkins Publishing, $19.95). He shares some notable destinations with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, New Mexico
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this entire ancient city is believed to have been designed to track the heavens. Many walls are built on a north-south, east-west axis, and shadows dramatically mark the solstice, equinox and other celestial events. “The siting of the great houses throughout the canyon have an element of planning. They are not randomly positioned,” Taylor says. nps.gov/chcu
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois
This earthen mound complex east of St. Louis was once the continent’s largest city north of Mexico. Hills and circles of red cedar posts align with the solstice and equinox, earning the ruins the name Woodhenge. “The interest lies in the grand pattern that researchers have discovered, or re-discovered,” Taylor says. cahokiamounds.org
Bighorn Medicine Wheel, Wyoming
On the summer solstice, this ancient stone hoop comes to life, aligning with the sunrise and sunset. The well-preserved site in the Bighorn National Forest also marks places on the horizon where prominent stars appear. “It’s stunning scenery,” Taylor says. “It’s a wonderful geometric design that you can see at a glance and take it all in.” travelwyoming.com
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Arizona
Constructed about 700 years ago, this four-story house serves as a calendar. When the sunrises and sunsets during the summer solstice and spring and fall equinox, a beam of light shines through windows in a top-floor room. “To look at it, you’d think it’s simply a house, but the scholars surmised it was carefully constructed for kind of a light show at certain times of year,” Taylor says. nps.gov/cagr
Pi'ilanihale Heiau, Maui, Hawaii
The Hawaiian Islands have many temple structures and worship sites, known as heiau. The biggest, found near the town of Hana on Maui, covers nearly three acres, including a giant stone platform with volcanic stone walls. Some of the structures are oriented to constellations, which have ties to planting seasons. It’s located at the National Tropical Botanical Garden and offers tours by appointment. ntbg.org/gardens/kahanu
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Crowds gather around the Mayan site’s pyramid to mark the passing seasons. During equinoxes, shadows form a zig-zag pattern on the stairs to resemble a giant snake. “It’s remarkably sophisticated,” Taylor says. “It’s a massive statement and a huge investment in time and energy and thought to create a site based on astronomy.” The pyramid itself serves as a giant calendar, with 91 steps on its four stairways, plus the top platform, totaling 365 days of the year. visitmexico.com/en
Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
Constructed with its faces oriented to the four cardinal directions, this pyramid references the Earth’s poles and rotation, Taylor says. The 1,200-year-old temple features carved galleries and was built in tiers to represent the heavens. “It’s designed to be a spiritual experience of finding yourself in the cosmos.” indonesia.travel
Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming
According to Kiowa Native American folklore, this giant rock rose from the ground when seven girls leaped onto a butte to escape attacking bears. As the formation grew, the girls rose to the sky and became the seven-star Pleiades formation. “From a certain position, you can see the constellation just above the tower,” Taylor says. nps.gov/deto
Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado/Utah
Like other Southwest ruins, this site appears to have been inspired by the heavens. For example, the western tower of Howenweep Castle has windows marking the equinox and solstice. “The alignments are hidden in plain sight. The light streams through it at certain special times,” Taylor says. “You wouldn’t notice them unless you knew to look.” nps.gov/hove
Midmar Kirk, Scotland
This stone circle, located 18 miles west of Aberdeen, was built more than 4,000 years ago with lunar alignments. “A horizontal stone kind of frames the horizon where the moon does its thing,” Taylor says. “It’s world class.” visitscotland.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 great ancient ruins that track the heavens, from Woodhenge to Chichen Itza
