• The megalithic cluster of Carregal do Sal

The megalithic cluster of Carregal do Sal (Photo : Nottingham Trent University )

Astronomers have discovered how prehistoric humans studied the stars and the cosmos, revealing in a new study that the first telescope was used around 6,000 years ago.

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British scientists have discovered a series of long passageways leading into megalithic tombs that have could have provided an entrance with tunnel like views toward the night skies for early human communities to gaze up into the heavens.

Researchers call these as passage graves that are composed of narrow entrances that follow a chamber of larger interlocking stones. These are also regarded as sacred places where rites of passage are often held suggesting spending the night inside the stone tomb, which remained dark apart from natural starlight that can filter into these passageways. Scientists now consider these passageways as some sort of prototype telescopes.

According to Kieran Simcox from the Nottingham Trent University, it is apparently surprising that this could be the first time that scientists have investigated how the color of night time skies can impact how the naked eye sees it.

In this new study, researchers have studied the Seven Stone Antas grave in Portugal which is estimated to be around 6,000 years old.

According to Fabio Silva from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, the tomb orientation is possibly aligned with Aldebaran which is also the brightest star in the Taurus constellation. Silva explains that in order to predict the first appearance of this star in this season with much accuracy, it is crucial to detect stars especially in twilight.

These findings are yet to be confirmed, however, the first sighting of a specific star within a year is most likely used as a seasonal marker that provides prehistoric humans a signal where to migrate during summer to graze. Researchers conclude that these prehistoric humans might have gained their insight from spending nights inside the tomb, where their ancestors are laid to rest, as stars shine down the narrow passageways of the megalith.

These new findings are presented by the Royal Astronomical Society during the 2016 National Astronomy Meeting.