Which astronomical alignments have been identified in Malta?

Fig. 2. An example of astronomical alignments identified in Malta. The equinox sunrise as seen by within the Mnajdra temples (Dalli 2015). In recent years, archaeoastronomers have attempted to identify new alignments within the temples to demonstrate potentially significant patterns of orientation.

Are there cosmological features in Malta?

In Malta, various cosmological events have been considered in conjunction with archaeological features. The first to identify a possible astronomical interest was Zammit during his excavation of the Tarxien temples, during which he noted a series of holes in the arrangement of the Southern Cross (Zammit and Mayrhofer 1995).

Does Neolithic Malta align with solar events?

In the literature, analysis of orientations in Neolithic Malta identified possible alignments with solar events, and especially the winter solstice (Mifsud and Savona Ventura 1999; Pace 2000; Albrecht, 2007; Vassallo 2001, 2003; Cox and Lomsdalen 2010; Lomsdalen 2010, 2013a, 2013b, 2014, 2015, 2016; Stroud 2010; Cini et al., 2013; Barratt 2018).

Are astronomical temples statistically valid in Neolithic Malta?

It is merely a thought experiment designed to show that the statistical analysis (and previous statistical work) is only valid if the temples were aligned to an astronomical body. Another issue that must be considered is the limited dataset available in Neolithic Malta.

What is the NAAP Solar System models Lab?

The NAAP Solar System Models Lab introduces the universe as envisioned by early thinkers culminating in a detailed look at the Copernican model. First time users of NAAP materials should read the NAAP Labs – General Overview page.

Can a 3D simulation reveal patterns of alignments in Neolithic Malta?

This project uses a 3D simulation to uncover patterns of alignments through the creation of new data (Fig. 4). While previous work has concentrated on analysing individual sites and identifying alignments through observation, this project attempted to quantify their accuracy and consistency throughout the temples of Neolithic Malta.