METHOD FOR EVALUATING AGE OF ROCK PAINTINGS AND CULT INSTALLATIONS Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: archeology. SUBSTANCE: method involves comparing ancient and contemporary points of sunrise at the horizon. Natural gnomons or pits for setting artificial gnomons, notches, points, symbols, patterns illuminated with rays of heavenly bodies or shadows from gnomons at the solstice and equinox days. Calculation model of clocks, calendars is developed. Ancient clocks and calendar operation mode is reestablished. Heavenly bodies illumination periods and solstice days in ancient times are determined based on these data. Ancient azimuths of gnomons shadows and zenith angles are measured when covering the pits, notches, points, symbols, patterns meaning solstice and equinox days at rise, set or zenith of heavenly bodies. The azimuths are marked on the ancient clock model calendar together with lines of rise, set of heavenly bodies in present time on the same days. Angle is measured between the ancient sunrise points at the solstice and equinox days and between the ancient and contemporary sunrise lines at equinox days. The ancient angle of ε the Earth inclination to ecliptic normal and geographic paleolatitude ϕ of the given area. The so determined ϕ, and ε values and reference plots of climate on the Earth within the last 100000 years are used for evaluating the age of the rock paintings and cult installations. EFFECT: high accuracy of the method. 2 cl, 6 dwg, 1 tbl