archaeoastronomy

or ar·che·o·as·tron·o·my

[ ahr-kee-oh-uh-stron-uh-mee ]

noun
  1. the branch of archaeology that deals with the apparent use by prehistoric civilizations of astronomical techniques to establish the seasons or the cycle of the year, especially as evidenced in the construction of megaliths and other ritual structures.

Origin of archaeoastronomy

1
First recorded in 1970–75; archaeo- + astronomy

Other words from archaeoastronomy

  • ar·chae·o·as·tron·o·mer, noun
  • ar·chae·o·as·tro·nom·i·cal [ahr-kee-oh-as-truh-nom-i-kuhl], /ˌɑr ki oʊˌæs trəˈnɒm ɪ kəl/, adjective

Words Nearby archaeoastronomy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for archaeoastronomy

archaeoastronomy

archeoastronomy

/ (ˌɑːkɪəʊəˈstrɒnəmɪ) /


noun
  1. the scientific study of the beliefs and practices concerning astronomy that existed in ancient and prehistoric civilizations

Derived forms of archaeoastronomy

  • archaeoastronomer or archeoastronomer, noun

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