La astronomía cultural, ¿es interdisciplinar? Reflexiones de un astrofísico

Abstract

In this paper, I present a personal view on the role of the astrophysicists and astronomers in Cultural Astronomy. Firstly, I discuss the definition of archaeoastronomy or cultural astronomy and its controversial interdisciplinary nature. I comment about the actual curricular problem of astrophysicists working in this field of investigation and the difficult communication between astrophysicists (and other scientists) and archaeologists and anthropologists. I highlight the importance of accuracy in the orientation of archaeological monuments in the site plans. Finally, I insist on the necessity of considering the celestial sphere as a part of the context of the archaeological sites, and that archaeoastronomy should be considered as a part of Landscape Archaeology. In this case, the landscape should also include the celestial context.