Is there evidence of intentionality of sky involvement in the prehistoric megalithic sites of Mnajdra in Malta?

This dissertation addresses the question of whether the prehistoric Mnajdra Temples in Malta were intentionally constructed to face astronomical events in the sky. Using a combination of archeoastronomical fieldwork measurements, photography, phenomenology and experimental archaeoastronomy, the possibility that the temples were purposely built as a sacred site to pay respect and obeisance to the power of the cosmos is investigated. The role of the sky in the wider cosmology of the temple builders, living on an island where sea, earth and heavens were important elements, is also explored with recourse to the archaeological record of the Temple Period. It will be argued that the Mnajdra South Temple is the world’s oldest structure that seems to be intentionally aligned towards the oscillation of the rising sun throughout the year. The debate over whether the temple was intentionally built as a ‘solar calendar’ or a device to keep track of time and seasons is examined. The search for celestial intentionality behind the architecture of the Mnajdra complex has also led to a proposal of a redefined chronology for its construction, based on both archaeological and archaeoastronomical arguments. This redefined chronology suggests that there was continuous interest in the sun’s position throughout the one and a half millennia of its construction which substantiates the hypothesis that the temple was built with awareness of the movements of celestial bodies, especially the sun’s cyclical vitalising and animating effect on earthly life. The uniqueness of each temple’s distinct orientation may suggest an increasingly sophisticated knowledge of cosmology, alignments and horizon-based astronomy, implying an astronomically-based intentionality of the builders.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

ma

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Lomsdalen, Tore

• CC Archaeoleg
• DE Rhanbarth Môr y Canoldir. Y Byd Groeg-Rufeinig
• QB Astronomeg

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:427