Evidence of the world聮s earliest known astronomical site discovered in the sediments of a dried lake in southern Egypt will be the topic of a live astronomy show at CU-Boulder's Fiske Planetarium this month.
University of Colorado at Boulder astronomy Professor J. McKim Malville will present "Astronomy Before the Pyramids," on Friday, Oct. 13, and Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the planetarium.
Malville was part of an international expedition in spring 1998 that discovered what is believed to be the oldest construction of stones aligned with the stars. Known as Nabta, the site is located west of the Nile River in southern Egypt and dates back about 7,000 years, making it more than 1,000 years older than Stonehenge in England.
"I will describe how these discoveries were made and give an update on our understanding of this remarkable site," Malville said.
For the past 5,000 years, the region in the Sahara Desert where the site was found has been uninhabitable. But between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago summer monsoon rains filled the lake, known as Nabta Playa, making its shores a gathering place for nomadic pastoralists.
Then around 5000 B.C. the climate changed slightly enough so that the lake no longer filled with water every summer, Malville said.
"Perhaps because of their concern over diminishing water, the nomads began building an elaborate ceremonial center, which is what was discovered in 1998," Malville said.
Malville will discuss possible influences of Nabta on the high culture of the Nile Valley.
"In the planetarium we will travel back 7,000 years in time to the late Neolithic period and demonstrate how the changes in the sky allow us to date the megaliths of Nabta," Malville said.
Malville聮s research involves solar physics and astronomy of ancient and modern cultures of India, Egypt and the American Southwest.
Tickets go on sale at 7 p.m. the night of the show and are $4 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.
Fiske Planetarium is located at Regent Drive and Kittredge Loop Drive on the CU-Boulder campus.
For more information contact the Fiske Planetarium at (303) 492-5001, or visit the Web site at .