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What did the sky mean to the first humans? How did ancient societies navigate, measure time, organise ritual life and imagine their place in the universe? And what is the connections of mysterious monuments, like Stonehenge, Coricancha and the Egyptian pyramids to ancient star-gazing?

This course introduces the study of archaeoastronomy, the investigation of how past cultures understood celestial phenomena and incorporated them into architecture, religion, migration and systems of knowledge.

Beginning with the naked-eye sky and the slow precessional shift of the Earth’s axis, the course considers the fact that ancient peoples inhabited a sky different from our own. It then moves across the ancient world, from Palaeolithic Europe to Egypt, Ireland, Britain, Greece and the Americas, exploring the ways monuments, calendars, myths and technologies were shaped by close observation of the heavens.

The final part of the course turns to method. Rather than romantic fantasy or pseudo-historical claims, this course is grounded in evidence and asks how archaeoastronomy works as a scholarly discipline. You will discover how astronomers and archaeologists reconstruct ancient skies, test alignments and evaluate whether a celestial connection was meaningful, deliberate or merely coincidental.

No prior knowledge is required, and the sessions are designed to be accessible and engaging.

Term dates

•  Autumn Term: week beginning 19 October 2026 until week ending 11 December 2026

For course content enquiries: Contact the Programme Manager, Michael Paraskos, at m.paraskos@imperial.ac.uk

For enrolment and booking enquiries: Contact Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class recordings

These classes are not recorded.

Imperial certificates

This course has no exams or assessments, so you can focus on enjoying your learning. If you attend regularly, you may also receive an Imperial attendance certificate. (T&Cs apply).