Current Events at the Gap
Most of what we have been discussing in this web-page has been pertaining to
the Zipper Glyph and the solar calendar. This is as it should be because the solar
calendar and solar motion of the gap narrows is central to all that happens
at the gap. However it follows that if these ancient people created a solar
calendar at this level of skill, there should also be other calendar events
recorded there and this is most likely to be lunar or of the moon.
So when the lunar panel was
identified with day counts for the month, lunations for one traverse of the sun
between solstices (a half year) and for a full 12 month year, it was gratifying
but not too surprising. However what was surprising was the level and scope
of knowledge contained in the lunar panel because the panel also contains a
nineteen (19 years) count which indicated that these people understood extended cycles
of the moon. Was this possible? The moon goes through three long cycle
dependent on the regression of the lunar nodes:
1. The Saros Cycle at 18.3 years. This is the eclipse cycle.
2. The regression of the lunar nodes at 18.6 years.
3. The Metonic Cycle at almost exactly 19 years.
The problem with isomophic numbers is that a fractional part can't be
represented. Which of the three cycles of the moon is meant by this 19 count.
There was no way for these ancient peoples to understand
and observe directly the regression of the lunar nodes ( 2. above) as such
because it is only detectable by the eclipses or the extreme swing of the moon
along the horizon. But we know that they were horizon watchers from the solar
calendar. We could recognize the solar wedge embedded in the lunar panel,
which hinted to us that horizon observation was also being applied to lunar
motion. While we have no doubt that they would observe eclipses with
great interest but is difficult to even notice an eclipse unless an
eclipse unless is is total or near total. This tended to through
the focus of the investigation on to another horizonal alignment. What does this
mean? Was it time to look for another cairn to mark the moon set at a
northern or southern most extreme? However it was quickly noticed
that right adjacent to the 19-count glyph was a narrow slot. Sighting through
this slot pointed to a place on the eastern horizon where the sun could
never rise. Things moved rapidly then because that peice of the horizon had
already been profiled in the computer. A a few minutes in the trailer and one
access of SHAMOS told us that the slot between the rocks pointed to the
southernmost rise of the moon. From here it was needed to piece together
a possible rational for the ancients ones to created the sight alignment. It was found
that because of the regression of the lunar nodes it was was possible to identify
series of exteme southern moonrises that reoccur very precisely on the
summer solstices over 19 year intervals. This was settled on as the most
likely link to the rest of the calendar function at the Gap.
On the 21st of June this year (2005) 16 years after the discovery the day
of the 19-year finally came around. We had a fairly well attended
evening of observation of the summer solstice sunset, the Metonic rise of the
moon through the slot, and three planets in the gap narrows, Mercury, Venus
and Saturn.
With this last event, it is high time to let be said that Parowan Gap is
exactly what it presents itself to be, an astonishing well working and
sophisticated Native American astronomical observatory and calendar.
With the observation of the nineteen year metonic rise
of the moon in the notch immedietly adjacent the 19-year count and all
the other solar and lunar counts and alignments this site deserves to be
recognized as to its true rank and significance. It deserves respect,
preservation, and protection. See the Peer Review above for more information.
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