Which of the following best describes a set of conditions under which archaeoastronomers would conclude that an ancient structure was used for astronomical purposes?
A)They find that, looking out from the center of the building, there are two windows that align with the rise and set points of two bright stars.
B)The structure has the same dome shape as modern astronomical observatories.
C)The structure has holes in the ceiling that allow viewing the passage of constellations that figure prominently in the culture's folklore, and many other structures built by the same culture have ceiling holes placed in the same way.
D)The structure has 29 straight lines pointing out from a center, just like there are 29 days in the lunar cycle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This choice describes a set of conditions that are consistent with a cultural tradition of astronomically oriented structures. The presence of holes in ceilings that allow one to see the passage of specific stars and constellations is the clearest indication of an astronomical purpose for the building. The fact that other structures in the same culture have similar holes suggests a widespread practice rather than an isolated instance of coincidence or happenstance. In contrast, options A, B, and D are suggestive of astronomical design from a modern perspective but are not necessarily indicative of astronomical use for an ancient structure.

Which of the Following Best Describes a Set of Conditions