The world's first astronomers (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

The world's first astronomers

By Louise Merrillees
Updated Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:36pm AEST

As the world's oldest continuous culture, Aboriginal people can make the
claim to be the world's first astronomers.

For them, gazing at the stars is about more than making out and naming
constellations.

Bill Yidumduma Harney, an elder of the Wardaman people from near Katherine
in the Northern Territory, is a tour operator, an artist, a musician and a
storyteller.

He says he used to lie down and learn about the stars from his Wardaman
elders.

Mr Harney, 81, co-authored the book 'Dark Sparklers' about the role
astronomy plays in the Wardaman culture and prominent figures in Aboriginal
Dreaming.

Access full article below:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-17/aboriginal-astronomy-feature/4206196?section=nt
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