PLEASE RECOMMEND THIS WEBSITE ON TO OTHERS

©Copy Right Notice 1997-2006

©The Author, Crichton E M Miller, reserves all rights under the Patents and Copy right acts to be recognised as the author,  discoverer and originator of this work.

Contact Information

by

Crichton E M Miller

© 2004-02-17

The extensive but not exhaustive original research contained within these pages is a result of the author’s sympathy with the proposal by Sir Isaac Newton in the 18^th Century AD that the problem of longitude could be solved through the application of astronomy. For the last seven years, the author has explored the potential for prehistoric navigators to find latitude and longitude using simple equipment, a system of astronomy and techniques of geometry, leading to a successful credible working hypothesis and proof of functionality.

 The author has become aware that it is highly likely using the scientific principle of OCCAM’S RAZOR that groups of ancient peoples as far back as the Neolithic did possess and use the knowledge contained in this research, leading to the development and subsequent loss of a highly developed sophisticated philosophy and spiritual world view quite removed from our current one. Whereas the philosophy might be lost or undecipherable in interpretation, the mathematics that led to our present technological system has been maintained, although its roots remain obscure

It should be understood that the unique information revealed in this work is inextricable from the ancient roots of modern religion, since it becomes obvious that the science of the ancients and their spiritual world view were completely intertwined. This research will attempt to avoid speculation or pass judgement on sensitive religious interpretation leaving other specialists in the field of theology to explore those areas should they so wish. However, the working hypothesis and proof in this work should prove invaluable to historians, archaeologists and Archeaoastronomers in furthering their research in to our ancient past for the benefit of the tax paying public who provide much of the funds for their activities, to whom they hold a duty of care.

It is therefore this author’s view that it is the duty of these learned bodies to explore this important work without prejudice, rejecting superstition and political consequence, in the spirit of genuine scientific enquiry.

Abstract

Longitude BC.

©2004-02-17

by

Crichton E M Miller

The problem of longitude presents itself as a problem of time keeping in co ordination with the rotation of the earth.

To establish the rate of rotation of the earth requires accurate observations of the positions of heavenly bodies such as stars, planets and moon and of course the sun.

To measure the speed and distance of the motions of the planet against the fixed backdrop of the sky requires knowledge of mathematics, astronomy and a system of measurement by an observer with instruments and the ability to record data.

The theory and mechanical proofs offered in this work show a credible hypothesis that prehistoric seafarers had the potential to find both latitude and longitude with the minimum of equipment and no technology to speak of apart from primitive but ingenious instruments and methods of recording data.

This work will attempt to cover hitherto undiscovered yet historically obvious methods of measurement and instrumentation resulting in a provable working model.

The instruments outlined in this paper have already been subjected to professional scrutiny by the British Patent Office resulting in the granting of two patents in 2000 and 2001 respectively as a navigational, astronomical and surveying device.

The judgement of this respected Government Department is that the instruments are neither obvious or in use in modern times, yet the author will show that evidence of the existence of these instruments are quite clear in both historical and theological records.

Whereas latitude is relatively easy to establish, longitude is understandably presented by academia as a problem for pre technological people for the following reasons.

1. There is no historical certainty that prehistoric people knew that the earth was a sphere and accurate navigation depends on this knowledge, although it is clearly recorded that the Greek philosophers were fully conversant with a spherical earth as long a go as 500BC as were the Muslim civilisation in 800AD.
2. The technical problems presented to an observer trying to find a position on a rotating planet.
3. The reasonable view based on modern concepts, that an ancient observer could not find local time in relation to world time without a reliable mechanical time piece or mechanical recording mechanism.
4. The absence of evidence for efficient navigational equipment capable of taking accurate sightings of the stars, sun, planets or moon

To answer these questions the author will provide a working system of time keeping, navigation and astronomy using the minimum of simple instruments and explaining a structure of astronomical observations that functions perfectly adequately for the purpose proposed.

1.      The ancient system is not dependant on the planet being a sphere, but rather that the rotating heavens are observed as wheels.

2.      The stars, sun, planets and the moon are always predictable in their positions at certain times and dates providing there is a method of recording data and a mathematical system

3.      The view that rather than the use of a mechanical device such as a modern clock or watch, the observer saw themselves as an integrated part of the larger device of Nature by observing the precise and predictable motions of recognisable fixed constellations of stars devised as an imaginary backdrop against which the positions of the sun, moon and planets could be measured

4.      The evidence that there was such an instrument that could be used for taking accurate sightings and measurements of the stars, sun, planets or moon

In this work, the author will show that proper measurement of the zodiac in combination and geared to a further zodiac in the northern hemisphere can allow an  observer to calculate the time to within seconds and the date from days to epochs.

The author will demonstrate that the recording and measurement of the position of the sun could be measured night and day with the use of a plumb line and measuring rod or mathematical scale which was developed to a level of sophistication as yet unappreciated by modern research.

The author will demonstrate that the Celtic cross design is a replica or image of an instrument that acts as an accurate inclinometer and spherical geometrical protractor that is superior to the astrolabe, early quadrant and the later sextant.

The author goes on to propose and reveal comprehensive historical and archaeological evidence that this system was used by mariners and astronomer/priests from the Neolithic period through the rise and fall of many diverse civilisations in part or whole up to and including the 15^th Century AD.

The work of this author is set up as a challenge to the minds of modern scientific and theological enquiry and is subject to the same sceptical rules as any proposal offered by any other student or scientist for peer group approval.

Modern navigation techniques

Before pursuing this matter further it is necessary to give an outline of modern navigation techniques so that those readers not familiar with the discipline may gain a fundamental knowledge from which to understand the arguments later on.

An observer on the surface of the earth will make a daily rotation from West to East completing one revolution in a 24 hour period. Part of this revolution will expose the observer to sunlight as the observer’s position faces the sun and the other part will be in darkness as the observer faces deep space.

Subject to whether or not there is cloud cover or fog, the observer will see the sun rise in the east and set in the west during the time when his or her position is on the daylight side. As the position enters the night side, the observer will see a succession of stars and planets rising in the east and setting in the west.

Since all these bodies are too far away to triangulate due to the parallax phenomenon, it is impossible to find a deep sea geometrical answer to finding an east west position in the way that a navigator might do when sailing close to a known coast line with distinguishing marks available in a pilot book or chart.

The only way to find a position in longitude out of sight of land is to use time as a bench mark from which to measure.

There are two types of time used in this calculation: world time and local time.

The first establishment is world time, or time fixed at one known geographical position from which all other time is measured.

To find longitude in relation to this geographical position requires the formation of a permanent geographical meridian at which world time is kept. This world time is known as Greenwich Meantime or (GMT) or  Universal Time.

The Greenwich meridian is currently known as the Prime Meridian because it passes through the Greenwich Observatory in London, England and is measured as 0º along a north south axis from pole to pole. All other meridians are measured from that meridian in degrees totalling 360 including the Prime Meridian.

Figure 1  The plane of a meridian (A Great

Circle) divides the world into two equal parts from pole to pole.

Just like hours, degrees are divided into minutes of arc, which are again subdivided into seconds of arc.

It must always be kept in mind that whatever meridian or division of a meridian the sun is directly over, will be noon at that place.

Therefore, when the sun is directly on the prime meridian it is 12.00 hours GMT at Greenwich. Since the earth spins from east to west it follows that a position west of the meridian will be before noon and a position east will be after noon.

The earth rotates at a rate of 15º per hour so that assuming it is noon at Greenwich; it will be 11.00 hours GMT at a point 15º west of Greenwich and 13.00 hours GMT at a point 15º east of Greenwich.

To discover the latter requires a method of finding local time so as to compare it against world time.

World time must be kept anywhere on the planet that the observer is located and the instrument that we use today for this measurement is a clock that has to be reliable and accurate.

A navigator will take a noon sight at the ships position and that will be his local noon, after adjustments made for refraction he will compare his local noon to the world clock or GMT.

Since the world spins at a rate of 15º per hour it is a relatively simple calculation to work out the distance East or West in degrees and minutes of arc from the prime meridian.

It is for this reason that current academic thought is set against the idea of mariners finding longitude before the invention of and testing the sea going chronometer in 1764 which was invented by John Harrison and the invention of the sextant for taking sun sights.

Where it is generally and widely accepted that an instrument known as a Jacobs’s staff or cross staff was available to mariners as far back as the age of the Vikings in 800AD, it is usually assumed quite correctly that direct measurements of the sun were unlikely because of the risk of blinding the operator.

The main contention however, is that regardless of the method used to sight the sun; there was no way to keep the time at Greenwich without an accurate chronometer.

The method employed post Harrison would be to keep a watch or clock on board the vessel faithfully keeping the Greenwich Time and acquiring local noon through observations of the sun as it transited due south of the ships position.

The difference in the two times would be interpolated and translated into degrees and minutes of arc and then further translated into nautical miles east or west of Greenwich.

Example   

12.00 Local Time – 13.00GMT = 1hour

= 15ºWest

To translate this further into distance represented by nautical miles requires knowledge of the ships position on a parallel of latitude.

This further observation is required because the earth is an oblate spheroid and is wider at the equator than at the poles.

For this reason the lines of longitude merge together as they approach the poles (See Figure 1) resulting in a variation of distance on the parallels of latitude (See Figure 2)

Therefore navigators using modern charts would use an instrument known as dividers and utilise the scale on the meridian of longitude only, translating the reading onto the appropriate parallel of latitude. The rational behind this method is that distance is always consistent on meridians of longitude regardless of the latitude.

Latitude

Figure 2  

The plane of a parallel of latitude (a small circle) divides the earth into two unequal parts.

Therefore, a navigator at the equator measuring 15º west along the parallel of latitude from the Greenwich Meridian would record a distance from line of longitude of 900 nautical miles. However, a navigator whose ship was at 45º latitude would record a distance west of Greenwich of 450 nautical miles.

Finding latitude in the last few years in the northern hemisphere was a relatively simple exercise, since it only required a single night observation of the pole star (Polaris) with a sextant, the angle of the star read on the sextant scale is almost precisely the latitude of the observer.

However this was not the case until relatively recently as there has not been a clearly defined pole star in the north since the star Alpha Draconis was in that position in 2800 BC.

Without the positioning of a pole star, navigators had to work out the declination of the sun, the stars and planets on the ecliptic plane with either the help of almanacs or using a declination table created by astronomers as the seasons progressed.

It is fair to say that at the time of Harrison’s great invention of a stable and accurate chronometer in 1729, Polaris was close enough to the geographic North Pole to describe a circle of a few degrees, so it would not be too difficult to estimate the centre.

Finding Longitude was the major problem at the time that led to the development of very accurate chronometers that we all take for granted today, but even the watch that we wear on our wrists gained its name from sea going traditions, since the watch is named after keeping watch on a ship at sea.

After this ingenious solution to the problem that tested the greatest minds of the time, no further serious scientific thought appears to have gone into the study of alternative historical methods of finding longitude or consistently keeping accurate time.

The emphasise is on historical in context of this research since of course, enormous steps have been achieved in the last few decades in the development of satellite navigation systems or Global Positioning Systems known as GPS which more and more commercial shipping rely on.

The basic systems of navigation discussed earlier are still taught and practised, since most sensible navigators still prefer a back up system in case of failure in on board electronics or satellite failure due to solar flares or military action.

In the light of the ingenious solution to the problem of longitude in 1764, it is not unreasonable to expect that modern historians and scientists would in true Darwinian terms look on the development as progress and not expect a sophisticated form of time keeping and navigation to have existed prior to the discovery and invention of the Harrison chronometer.

John Harrison and his successful chronometer H4 that was tested with a voyage to Jamaica

This theory and research may help prove that sailors operating in the Northern hemisphere as long ago as 5000 BC were almost as accurate in the finding of longitude as the first experiment for Harrison’s chronometer that placed the ship within 10 nautical miles of its true position and only lost 5 seconds of time during the whole voyage.

The author will touch on the history of some of the better known groups of sailors that operated around those times such as the Phoenicians and the Minoans but will not specify any particular group of mariners as having the expertise that will be considered in detail as the work progresses.

What the author will do as this work progresses is to show an alternative method of keeping prime meridian time, local time, finding latitude and longitude using forgotten methods of astronomy that could in combination with the working cross and plumbline.

Meanwhile there are many legends of pre Columbian trans-Atlantic voyages from the Minoans, Phoenicians and Celtic people Vikings.

An Irish monk,  St Brendan is one such legend and is considered by many to have crossed the ocean to America 900 years before Columbus.

©Copy Right Notice 1997-2004

©The Author, Crichton E M Miller, reserves all rights under the Patents and Copy right acts to be recognised as the author of this work.

If you think this work may be of interest to others, please recommend this website