Donald R. Cochran (Department of Anthropology, Ball State University)
ARCHAEOASTRONOMY AT MOUNDS STATE PARK
During the 1988 Ball State University field school at Mounds Park, it was discovered
that two enclosures were aligned to sunset at the summer and winter solstice when
viewed from the center of the Great Mound. Additional depressions in the Great
Mound embankment were found to be oriented toward due north and due west (sunset
at the equinox) and to four locations to the east. The eastern alignments correlated
with the rise of bright stars. The alignments through the Great Mound embankment
also correlated with the post hole pattern previously recorded on the central
platform of the Great Mound. In addition, a review of the distribution of similar
enclosures in east central Indiana revealed that the sites were aligned to summer
solstice sunrise and sunset. These discoveries have demonstrated aspects of site
arrangement, regional organization, and expressions of Adena cosmology previously
unrecognized. [return to 1988 abstracts menu][continue to next]