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.

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Also called astroarchaeology, megalithic astronomy.

Origin of archaeoastronomy

First recorded in 1970–75; archaeo- + astronomy

OTHER WORDS FROM archaeoastronomy

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

Words nearby archaeoastronomy

archaea, archaean, archaebacteria, archaebacterium, archaeo-, archaeoastronomy, archaeobotany, archaeocyathid, archaeocyte, archaeol., archaeological
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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 of archaeoastronomy

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