Journals Information
Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5(12), pp. 1041 - 1051
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.051209
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Possible Mesoamerican Naked-eye Observation of Sunspots - VI: Evidence from Yaxchilan Lintel 48
Richard R. Zito *
Summerhaven Observatory, USA
ABSTRACT
Many pre-telescopic naked-eye observations of large sunspot displays exist in the historical records. The most famous of these observations come from China, Japan, Korea, and Greece, but other cultures have made them as well. Pictorial evidence on dated monuments suggests that naked-eye sunspot displays may have been recorded in Mesoamerica as well. In this regard, Yaxchilan Lintel 48 is of particular interest. After a century long gap in naked-eye sunspot observations from Asia, an outstanding cluster of events began in 499 AD and terminated on April 7, 513. Within 5 years of this latter date, Joy b'alam (Knot-eye Jaguar I) was captured and, following an interregnum, K'inich Tatb'u (Skull II; Knot-eye's brother) ascended the throne in 526. In retrospect, Mayan priests might have associated the sunspot displays with the change in political power, and recorded their observations on historical Lintel 48, dated to 526 AD, by the device of a spotted Sun God.
KEYWORDS
Maya, Yaxchilan, Lintel 48, Sun God, Sunspots
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Richard R. Zito , "Possible Mesoamerican Naked-eye Observation of Sunspots - VI: Evidence from Yaxchilan Lintel 48," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 5, No. 12, pp. 1041 - 1051, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.051209.
(b). APA Format:
Richard R. Zito (2017). Possible Mesoamerican Naked-eye Observation of Sunspots - VI: Evidence from Yaxchilan Lintel 48. Sociology and Anthropology, 5(12), 1041 - 1051. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.051209.