Abstract. The study of orientations is a key ingredient in most archaeoastronomical research. Typically, a number of synchronistic monuments belonging to a given culture or cultural horizon are measured and studied in order to see if they share a similar orientation. If an astronomical orientation appears, we may apply other archaeoastronomical procedures to justify further conclusions.On a few occasions we perform studies that compare, for a given site, monuments of different periods. At most two or three periods are usually compared to verify persistence or to check for evolution in customs of orientation. We argue here that it would also be interesting to study orientations from a diachronic point of view, in order to investigate the persistence/evolution of this particular conception of space through time.Mérida (Extremadura, Spain) and the neighbouring areas present a rich and highly interesting monumental heritage spanning from the Neolithic to the present, with monuments belonging to several different periods and cultures.In the present study we will review the orientation of the monuments in that area. We will present some conclusions on the evolution/persistence of customs of orientation and value the applicability of this method to other areas.
Funnel Beaker, or Trichterrandbecher (TRB), people introduced the Neolithic economy along with a characteristic pottery into parts of the North European Plains. I The TRB area has been divided into several groups reflecting the differences found in the material culture.' The remains found in the northern parts of the Netherlands and the northwest of Germany belong to the TRB-West Group (Figure I). These remains. have been dated in calibrated radiocarbon dates from 3400 B.C. to about 2800 B.C. 3 The TRB people built a variety of megalithic structures for burial purposes. Passage graves or GrossSteingriiber are the most common, but there are others." In a GrossSteingriib a near-rectangular chamber bordered by large orthostats forms the tomb. Dry stone fills the space between these boulders. In a number of monuments either one or two pairs of stones form a passage, and these are located in the middle of one of the long sides. The chamber is always much larger than the entrance. A tumulus covered the T-shaped megalithic structure, and on several occasions a kerb was laid surrounding this tumulus.' .' ..... FIG. I. Distribution of the megalithic monuments in the TRB-West group. Filled circles indicate measured monuments.
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