Kumeyaay astronomy

Short description: Astronomical knowledge of Kumeyaay people

Kumeyaay astronomy

Geographical range| El Vallecito
Period| 7000 BCE - c. 1875

Kumeyaay astronomy or cosmology (Kumeyaay: My Uuyow, "sky knowledge") comprises the astronomical knowledge of the Kumeyaay people, a Native American group whose traditional homeland occupies what is now Southern California in the United States and adjacent parts of northern Baja California in Mexico.[1] A deeply rooted cosmological belief system was developed and followed by the Kumeyaay civilization based on this knowledge including the computing of time (Kumeyaay Mat’taam).[2]

The first evidence of astronomical observations and visual registration was discovered in the El Vallecito archeological zone. The "Men in a square" rupestric painting located at El Diablito area of El Vallecito depicted a square that aligns with sunlight on the Fall equinox. These paintings were made by the Kumeyaay people, possibly during nomadic travels.[3][4] Kumeyaay sand paintings and rock art modeled the passage of the sun, moon, and constellations.[5]

Observation areas were made by the Kumeyaay to watch and register astronomical events. However many were destroyed by vandals before protection measures were instituted.[6]

## Contents

* 1 Astronomical objects
* 2 See also
* 3 References
* 4 External links

## Astronomical objects

* Hatotkeur (Spine of the Sky) - Milky Way

Constellations:[7]

Name  | Meaning  | Western equivalent

|
|

Kwechnyay | Hunter  | part of Orion
Hachaa | Six laughing girls  | Pleiades
Hawitai | Garter snake  | Lyra
Akewli | Chaser  | part of Orion
Hechkullk | Wolf  | Auriga, Taurus
Shallymat | Arm  | Big Dipper
Shally | Hand  | Leo
Pehkay | Seven  | Cygnus
Llykuushirra | Racer snake  | Cassiopaeia
Menniih | Tarantula  | Canis Major/Minor
Namuuly | Bear  | Gemini
'Ehwii | Rattlesnake  | Draco
Shuluk | Lightning  | Scorpius
Hetepaa | Coyote  | Bootes
Shaaii | Buzzard  | Virgo
'Ahaak | Raven  | Aquila
Emuu | Mountain sheep  | Orion's Belt
Awi yuk | Gopher snake  | Corvus/Hydra
Nyemii | Bobcat  | Piscis Austrinus

## See also

* Cultural astronomy

## References

1. ↑ Hedges, K. (1981-01-01). "Winter solstice observatory sites in Kumeyaay Territory, San Diego County, California.". Archaeoastronomy in the Americas: 151–156. Bibcode: 1981aram.conf..151H.
2. ↑ "Kumeyaay: Native Californians - San Diego Museum of Man" (in en-US). San Diego Museum of Man. http://www.museumofman.org/exhibits/kumeyaay-native-californians/.
3. ↑ "El INAH identifica evento arqueoastronómico en pintura rupestre de El Vallecito (INAH identified archeoastronomic event in cave paintings at El Vallecito)". Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia. http://www.inah.gob.mx/es/boletines/4995-el-inah-identifica-evento-arqueoastronomico-en-pintura-rupestre-de-el-vallecito.
4. ↑ Ray A. Williamson (1987). Living the Sky: The Cosmos of the American Indian. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 272–3. ISBN 978-0-8061-2034-8. https://archive.org/details/livingskycosmoso00will/page/272.
5. ↑ Richard L. Carrico, (ed) Strangers in a Stolen Land: Indians of San Diego County from Prehistory to the New Deal, Sunbelt Publications, 2008, ISBN 9780932653826
6. ↑ As it can be read in the information card about Kumeyaay astronomy at the San Diego Museum of Man. 2016.
7. ↑ Connolly, Michael (2016). Maay Uuyow: Kumeyaay Cosmology. Alpine, California: Shuluk. pp. 43. ISBN 9780692707661.

## External links

* San Diego Museum of Man

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