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

archaea, archaean, archaebacteria, archaebacterium, archaeo-, archaeoastronomy, archaeobotany, archaeocyathid, archaeocyte, archaeol., archaeological

Origin of archaeoastronomy

First recorded in 1970–75; archaeo- + astronomy

Also called astroarchaeology, megalithic astronomy.

Related forms

ar·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 Forms

archaeoastronomer 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