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definitions

archaeoastronomy

or ar·che·o·as·tron·o·my

[ ahr-kee-oh-uh-stron-uh-mee ]
/ ˌɑr ki oʊ əˈstrɒn ə mi /

noun

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.

Nearby words

  1. archaea,
  2. archaean,
  3. archaebacteria,
  4. archaebacterium,
  5. archaeo-,
  6. archaeobotany,
  7. archaeocyathid,
  8. archaeocyte,
  9. archaeol.,
  10. archaeological

Origin of archaeoastronomy

First recorded in 1970–75; archaeo- + astronomy
Also called astroarchaeology, megalithic astronomy.
Related formsar·chae·o·as·tron·o·mer, nounar·chae·o·as·tro·nom·i·cal [ahr-kee-oh-as-truh-nom-i-kuh l] /ˌɑr ki oʊˌæs trəˈnɒm ɪ kəl/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for archaeoastronomy

archaeoastronomy

archeoastronomy

/ (ˌɑːkɪəʊəˈstrɒnəmɪ) /

noun

the scientific study of the beliefs and practices concerning astronomy that existed in ancient and prehistoric civilizations
Derived Formsarchaeoastronomer or archeoastronomer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for archaeoastronomy

archaeoastronomy

n.

1971, from archaeo- + astronomy.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper