◈The Ancient Cushitic Calendar: Deciphering the Namoratunga II Stone Configurations - By Asfaw Beyene*, Ph.D

Publication Type: Research Article

Corresponding Author Asfaw Beyene*, Ph.D., Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA

Source: Open Access Journal of Archaeology & Anthropology - OAJAAA

Published Date: August 18, 2025

Abstract

The   II archaeological site, radiocarbon dated to 2398 ± 44 BCE, is located on the western shore of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. Discovered in 1978, it has been posited to function as an ancient astronomical observatory used by eastern Cushitic populations to track celestial movements for calendrical purposes. The site’s significance was further amplified by its association with Asmerom Legesse’s seminal work of 1973, which introduced the Gada system and the Oromo calendar to academic discourse. This link prompted interest in the site’s archaeoastronomical relevance, - and the interest endured but short of definitive evidence supporting this assumption. The hypothetical interpretation persisted largely due to the non-random spatial arrangement of the site’s 19 basalt pillars. Despite advances in understanding indigenous Cushitic calendrical systems, research specifically focused on Namoratunga II has been scant. This paper addresses the gap by employing computer-aided analysis of the stars and constellations associated with Cushitic time-reckoning, conducting spatial analysis of the pillar configurations, and correlating these findings with the indigenous traditional calendar as it has been practiced. The findings present new and conclusive evidence supporting the site’s function as an ancient astronomical observatory.

Keywords: Namoratunga, ancient calendar, archeoastronomy site, Urjii, Eastern Cushitic, Oromo

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