Did Indigenous people use rock formations for astronomy?

Researchers have found Indigenous stone arrangements in New South Wales that may have functioned as ancient compasses.

Researchers have found stone arrangements in New South Wales that may have functioned as ancient compasses.

 

Dr Duane Hamacher is a lecturer at the University of New South Wales and one of three researchers that examined sites across New South Wales.

 

They found most arrangements of the rocks were oriented in a mainly north-south or east-west direction.

 

Dr Hamacher told Laurie Lawira further research into the area may reveal how deeply Indigenous people studied the night skies.

 






Share

1 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world