Neolithic 'sun stones' sacrificed in Denmark revives sun after volcanic eruption

https://archaeologymag.com/2025/01/neolithic-sun-stones-sacrificed-in-denmark/

by bryanrasmussen • 1 year ago

10 9 1 year ago

archaeologymag.com

bryanrasmussen• 1 year ago

original title: Neolithic ‘sun stones’ sacrificed in Denmark to revive the sun after volcanic eruption

didn't see a good way to shorten.

ggm3• 1 year ago

"Sun Stones" refers to two things.

1) crystals with an interesting polarised effect which allow you to identify the vertical plane of the sun in cloudy skies, and therefore effect navigation at sea in overcast daylight, modulo some basic idea of the time.

2) quasi religious carved stones, "sacrificed" by burial, in attempts to placate the gods over the awful horrors of a post-eruption landscape and climate.

The article is about the second kind.

namaria2• 1 year ago

effect navigation at sea in overcast daylight, modulo some basic idea of the time

What do you mean with "modulo some basic idea of the time"?

ggm3• 1 year ago

The sun moves. You can't sail a constant linear course using a device which is sun seeking, unless you include some sense of time. It describes an arc in the sky, you'd be steering in a curve.

Happy to be told otherwise.

ainiriand• 1 year ago

It is interesting to note that in a 4900 year period it not very significative if they were saved by this ritual or all of the died in a 20 year span. But I hope they managed to see the sun again.

Neolithic 'sun stones' sacrificed in Denmark revives sun after volcanic eruption

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