Abstract – A preliminary analysis of the lines present in the Rising Star Cave geometric pattern, which is between 240,000 to 335,000 years old, confirms the lines are consistent with an archaic, astronomical text.
Introduction
Over the last decade, a new theory has been put forward that the various linear geometric patterns, seen worldwide, might be an archaic text where the angle of the lines were designed to represent astronomical values. In a recent analysis which reviewed the published data from the world’s oldest geometric images, a statistical study reached beyond a 7 sigma confidence level, and confirmed that many early geometric patterns were created with deliberate intent and were aligned to a specifc set of astronomical values.
The primary astronomical values within this archaic text are those related to the motion of the moon, and they can easily be calculated by simply placing stones on the ground each night to follow the motion of the setting moon.
This allows astronomers to quickly determine the sidereal month is on average 27.32 days long and the lunar standstill cycle is 18.6 years.
Within the archaeological records, there are many early examples, with currently the earliest known geometrics uncovered in Africa, and Europe. Most of the oldest samples date to between 100,000 to 200,000 years old. But there are now two examples that are much older. These are the Bilzingsleben carved bones which are dated to be about 350,000 years old and there is a geometric from Rising Star Cave which is in the Bloubank River valley, and just outside the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site that dates to be between 240,000 to 350,000 years old. These two older examples of the Babel Texts thus rest firmly within the period that other species of humans were alive.
In addition, in the case of the Rising Star Geometric the species of humans that occupied Rising Star Cave was Homo Naladi, whose existence was restricted to the Middle Pleistocene (which was circa 335,000–236,000 years ago).
Thus an analysis of the Rising Star Geometric is important, because it not only would confirm this archaic text was used in the era when modern Homo sapiens sapiens first appeared, but it also would confirm the author’s prior studies, which noted that many early geometrics have been found with other ancient species of humans, and thus the use of this written text was perhaps not restricted to just modern humans and homo Naladi.
Results
Though this study is based on just one image, which was recorded in less than ideal conditions, an analysis of the angles present in the geometric pattern shows this geometric image is consistent with the proposed Babel Texts and its link to astronomical values.
The data shows that most of the carved lines are consistent with an alignment to reflect the sidereal month and the 18.6 year lunar cycle.
Before looking more closely at the data, it is important to recognise that it is not claimed that ancient Stone Age scribes could create lines that were aligned to angles with exceptionally high accuracies.
Clearly, using simple tools, it would be impossible to generate lines that are carved to exactly 27.32 degrees.
Instead it is only claimed that these lines were the scribe’s best attempts, and the alignments are close to these values, and with most examples of this early text deteriorating over time, it is found that the line accuracy was typically plus or minus 0.3 degrees.
With the more recent texts from circa 100,000 years BP mainly employing 8 lines, with four of the lines being consistent with the full 18.6 year lunar cycle and the 27.32 day sidereal month, the primary difference seen within the Rising Star geometric is the absence of the half sidereal month value. In addition only two lines are present that match the full 27.32 day cycle.
Here, it should be noted that though the sidereal month is often linked to the careful observation of time and the location of background stars as the Earth rotates around the sun, on Earth it is simple to observe and measure the 27.32 day cycle by simply watching the location of the moonset each month.
As a further note, at the mid-point of the sidereal month cycle, the moon-set will record a line that aligns exactly due east-west, and from that it is possible to determine an alignment that plots due north. No tools, or complex mathematics are required.
Amongst the other lines that are present, there is a group that appears to create the standard 11, 22, 33, 44 degree series. This series appears to be based upon the well-known 11 day difference between the lunar and solar year; and is linked to the well-known fact, in astronomy, that every three years, there is a 33 day difference between the lunar and solar years, which then allows astronomers to reset the lunar and solar calendars by the addition of a 33 day month at the end of the third year.
Finally, the line at circa 5 degrees could represent the five visible planets that wander the night sky. However further work is required to confirm that this line does not represent other potential astronomical values.
Conclusions
In this preliminary study, the consistent appearance of lines that are carved to the sidereal month, and the 18.6 year lunar cycle, argues this ancient pattern is one of the oldest examples of the Babel Text.
The presence of parallel lines (the 18.6 degree line is carved three times at an offset to the vertical axis) is also evidence of intent; but the most important observation is Berger et al. identified this site as the home of Homo naledi.
With no remains from Homo sapiens there appears to be no reason to discount the possibility that this archaic text was created by other species of humans.
References
- An initial report of circa 241,000- to 335,000-year-old rock engravings and their relation to Homo naledi in the Rising Star cave system, South Africa, Lee R Berger; John Hawks; Agustín Fuentes; Dirk Van Rooyen; Mathabela Tsikoane; Maropeng Mpete; Samuel Nkwe; Keneiloe Molopyane , Evolotionary Biology https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.89102.3