[Aztlan] Maya "E-Groups" Question

[David Hixson]

Estimados Listeros,

I have a quick question about the currently accepted
tolerance levels for designations of "E-Groups".

As most of you know, E-Groups are architectural
arrangements where one structure faces three other
structures across a plaza.  When standing upon the
first structure, the other three can be used to sight
the rising sun during solstice and equinox events.

Archaeoastronomer Anthony Aveni has noted that
E-Groups need not be "perfect" alignments in order to
connote the same meaning.  I'm wondering if any of you
astronomy-minded listeros would mind giving me your
thoughts on a set of structures I mapped a few years
ago...

The main structure is a ruined mound, without any
indication of exactly which way it faces (essentially
a conical mound of rubble).  From the top of this
mound, roughly in what I believed at the time to be
its center, I used a hand-held magnetic compass to
site over the three lower mounds to its east.  The
mound in the center was at a bearing of roughly 98
degrees, while the other two mounds deviated roughly
22 degrees from this reading to the north and south.

Remember that I could not determine corners of any of
these ruined mounds, so my readings may be off quite a
bit (plus, as I said, I was using a standard hand-held
magnetic compass).  However, I wonder whether these
readings are somewhere near the accepted tolerance for
E-Groups, and if not, how far off are they?  What may
be affecting my (crude) readings (such as magnetic
declinations, or my position while sighting, or even
where I chose to sight over the three mounds)?

Love to hear your thoughts,

-Dave

__________________________________________________
David R. Hixson
Aztlan Moderator &
Doctoral Candidate
Tulane University
Dept. of Anthropology
__________________________________________________
"Nothing more useless than a bored archaeologist."
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