The Star People
Welcome to The Nile Valley Level 2, Lesson 1: The Star People
In this lesson, you will learn about:
The stone structure of ancient Nubia
The importance of tracking constellations
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will understand:
What a megalithic structure is
Why tracking constellations was important
Which scientific and spiritual systems were first born here
Near the border of what is today Egypt and Sudan, a mysterious stone circle was discovered. Emerging from the sands, large rocks of different shapes and sizes positioned in clusters, ovals, circles and straight lines were found next to a dry ancient lake.
It is thought that this stone circle, which is called a complex megalithic structure, is from between 9000-7500 BC. Scientists and archaeologists think that Africans travelling from what is today Chad set up this structure.
Although today this part of Egypt is a desert, thousands of years ago it was a savanna, with great lakes, lush vegetation and numerous wild animals such as giraffes and antelopes. It is thought that an ancient group of African people would periodically travel to this area to farm and harvest crops.
The complex structure found at the site is thought to have been a star map. Living under a cloudless sky, these people became attuned to the positions of the stars. They placed great importance on the cycles of the constellations, as to them, the stars seemed to affect the climate of the region. Their ability to survive depended on the position of the stars, as this dictated the seasons.
In order to effectively determine the seasons, these ancient Africans constructed a megalithic map to track the stars. This was perhaps the first calendar ever made, and it allowed these people to plan and execute their agricultural practices accordingly.
This incredible ancient star map also shows the birth of the science of astronomy, as well as an understanding of complex mathematics. In the region, evidence for the practice of cattle worship has been found. It is thought that the Nile Valley deity Hathor was first worshipped here, and that the first kingdoms in history were born from this ancient African civilisation at Nabta Playa.