Astronomical orientation of the pyramids

Dennis Rawlins and Keith Pickering ()
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Dennis Rawlins: DIO, The International Journal of Scientific History
Keith Pickering: Analysts International Corporation

Nature, 2001, vol. 412, issue 6848, 699-699

Abstract: Abstract Spence speculates that Egypt's pyramid builders found true north by using a plumb line: when the stars Kochab and Mizar were seen on the same vertical, one was facing north1. As evidence in support of this hypothesis, she points to the proposed interstar-line precession past the north celestial pole at a rate of 27′ per century (cy). We argue that a mathematical error affects this result, which when corrected points more strongly to a different pair of stars. This suggests that the conventional ancient chronology, instead of being compressed, may actually have to be expanded slightly.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35089138

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