A Native American Calendar

Intuitive Native American Calendar –

We know there are 365.25days in a year, approximately. From one full moon to the next full moon 28 days must pass. Thus after 13 moons, each of 28 day duration, 364 days pass as well. So intuitively, one might thing 13 moons would pass, with 1.25 days left off each year. So you could have a five day “holiday” every 4 years to catch up. Then start over. So I was wondering if there were any native people had a similar set up. Did any? Let’s see.

One person online said the following. No I have wondered about this possibility for years now, and had thought it was intuitively, correct. But as with many things, I thought my intuition wasn’t enough. Okay, here is the passage I saw online. I don’t want to embarrass the person who said it, so I won’t mention his name. Here goes.

The above is cool. So I did a google search of “Thirteen Moons on the Turtle’s Back” and got the following link; https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Thirteen+moons+on+the+turtle%27s+Back%22&sxsrf=AOaemvJBaL6-C7y0C6NfR7T6do0Udi1CiA%3A1637502127764&source=hp&ei=r0yaYdWAK_uiqtsP5eeY4A4&iflsig=ALs-wAMAAAAAYZpav4XhqCDhZhZfNBBfATzGdUN6LpgC&ved=0ahUKEwiVlJDlyqn0AhV7kWoFHeUzBuwQ4dUDCA0&oq=%22Thirteen+moons+on+the+turtle%27s+Back%22&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAxQAFgAYABoAHAAeAGAAQCIAQCSAQCYAQA&sclient=gws-wiz

And brought it up. No matter how long I looked it up. All references just led me to circular arguments, and never to the original source. So I quickly ceased my efforts. I just don’t have the time. I do know that there are KNOWN representatives of Native calendars, so I was hoping one of these would lead me to a better understanding of what is written on the back of the turtle. There are writings on the Aztec, Maya and Incan years. Maybe this will lead us to the carapace of the turtle’s back.

Mayan Calendar

I initially searched for an Aztec Calendar. However it started by saying it was like the Mayan Calendar, and spoke as though it was a copy of the or followed the Mayan Calendar. So I will cover it later. I will begin with the Mayan calendar. I found this here -- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mayan-calendar .

It says;

Mayan calendar, dating system of the ancient Mayan civilization and the basis for all other calendars used by Mesoamerican civilizations. The calendar was based on a ritual cycle of 260 named days and a year of 365 days. Taken together, they form a longer cycle of 18,980 days, or 52 years of 365 days, called a “Calendar Round.”

The original name of the 260-day cycle is unknown; it is variously referred to as the Tzolkin (“Count of Days”), divinatory calendar, ritual calendar, or simply the day calendar. Within the Tzolkin are two smaller cycles of days numbered from 1 to 13 and an ordered series of 20 named days. Although the names for the ritual days differed throughout Mesoamerica, scholars believe that the various calendars were synchronized based on their use in divination. In particular, each named day was thought to have certain fateful characteristics, but most of the details have been lost. Although the ritual day series was synchronized throughout Mesoamerica, the start of the 365-day year varied. The 365-day year was divided into 18 named months (uinals) of 20 days plus one month of 5 “nameless” days, called Uayeb. The nameless days were considered extremely unlucky, causing the Maya to observe them with fasting and sacrifices to deities. Each ordinary day had a fourfold designation—in order, day number and day name in the 260-day cycle and day number within the month and month name in the 365-day cycle. Thus, each of the 18,980 days in the Calendar Round had a unique designation (e.g., 12 Caban 15 Ceh).

The Maya erected stelae—i.e., stone slabs or pillars—on which they carved representative figures and important dates and events in their rulers’ lives. To describe a given date more accurately, the Maya instituted the “Long Count,” a continuous marking of time from a base date. Most historians think that 4 Ahau 8 Cumku (most likely August 11, 3114 BCE) was the base date used by the Maya for the start of the “Long Count” and the first “Great Cycle,” a period of 5,125 years that ends on December 21, 2012 CE.

These references seem to conclude the authors of these statements believe ALL Native calendars were derived from the Mayan calendar. This contradicts the initial statements o this study, namely, the structure of the image on the turtle’s back. I am not saying one is correct and the other is wrong. I am just saying there are inconsistencies.

The Aztec Calendar

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aztec-calendar

Here is states the following about the Aztec Calendar;

Aztec calendar, dating system based on the Mayan calendar and used in the Valley of Mexico before the destruction of the Aztec empire. Like the Mayan calendar, the Aztec calendar consisted of a ritual cycle of 260 days and a 365-day civil cycle. The ritual cycle, or tonalpohualli, contained two smaller cycles, an ordered sequence of 20 named days and a sequence of days numbered from 1 to 13. The 13-day cycle was particularly important for religious observance, and each of the 20 numbered cycles within the ritual year was associated with a different deity. Similarly, each named day was associated with a unique deity, and scholars believe that the combinations of ruling deities were used for divination. The civil year was divided into 18 months of 20 days each, plus an additional 5 days called nemontemi and considered to be very unlucky. Again as in the Mayan calendar, the Aztec ritual and civil cycles returned to the same positions relative to each other every 52 years, an event celebrated as the Binding Up of the Years, or the New Fire Ceremony. In preparation, all sacred and domestic fires were allowed to burn out. At the climax of the ceremony, priests ignited a new sacred fire on the breast of a sacrificial victim, from which the people rekindled their hearth fires and began feasting.

A circular calendar stone measuring about 12 feet (3.7 metres) in diameter and weighing some 25 tons was uncovered in Mexico City in 1790 and is currently on display in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. The face of the Aztec sun god, Tonatiuh, appears at the centre of the stone, surrounded by four square panels honouring previous incarnations of the deity that represent the four previous ages of the world. Circumscribing these are signs that represent the 20 days of the Aztec month.

Incan Calendar

http://www.machupicchu-inca.com/inca-calendar.html

The Incan calendar (or calendars) seems to be different than the one used for Meso-America. Here is what is said about it;

YOU WILL BE SURPRISED TO KNOW, THE CALENDAR INCA INVENTED AND USED WERE CLOSE TO OUR CURRENT CALENDAR. THEY USED AN APPROXIMATELY 365 DAYS SOLAR CALENDAR OR DAYS, THOUGH THE MONTHS STARTED IN DECEMBER. THEN THEY HAD ALSO A LUNAR CALENDAR, WHICH WAS A 328 DAYS YEAR.

TWO CALENDARS

As I just mentioned Inca had two calendars. One was a solar calendar or day time calendar, and the other one was lunar calendar or night time calendar.

THE DAY TIME OR SOLAR CALENDAR

The day time calendar was based on the solar cycle. They counted approximately 365 days in this calendar. This calendar was used for economic activities such as agriculture, mining, warfare and construction. This calendar was very important to Inca people, since they depend on this to fix the days on planting. They had towers in east and west of Cusco. They had some detail processes, where looking at the towers from certain location of main plaza of Cusco, they checked which day sun rose over the eastern tower and set on the western tower, to mark the day of planting corn and potatoes, and which day sun rose between the towers to mark the day of general sowing.

THE NIGHT TIME OR LUNAR CALENDAR

THIS IS THE ONE USED TO MARK THE DAYS OF THE ALL FESTIVALS. SINCE THIS CALENDAR WAS BASED ON MOON IT HAD ONLY 328 DAYS. WHICH MEANT TWELVE MONTHS OF 27,33 DAYS. SINCE LUNAR MONTH IS ACTUALLY 28 DAYS LONG, SO IT MATCHES WITH THE LUNAR MONTHS.

SO THEY HAD AROUND 37 DAYS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO CALENDARS. IT IS STILL NOT KNOWN, WHETHER THIS DIFFERENCE WAS OF ANY IMPORTANCE TO THE INCAS.

Inca months

Now lets discuss the months in Inca calendar. Here I will discuss both the day time and night time calendar.

First Month

Present day calendar : December

Inca Lunar Month : Capaq Raymi

Inca solar month : Coca Planting

Their first month was actually started in our present day December. It was called Capaq Raymi, as the Capaq Raymi festival took place in this month. Capaq Raymi means Great Feast of Sun. They sacrificed gold, silver and lives to Sun. Capaq Raymi was marked with their Lunar calendar. As per solar Calendar this was the month of Coca Planting.

Few other rituals took place in this month. Boy's puberty ceremony was held in this month. Tribute from provinces was brought for Inca state and religion to Cusco at this month.

Second Month

Present day calendar : January

Inca Lunar Month : Camay Quilla

Inca solar month : Weeding of fields

Inca did their fasting and penance on this month. They offered sacrifices to Viracocha and covered their bodies with ashes. Also some parts of puberty ceremonies were carried to this month from the previous month.

Third Month

Present day calendar : February

Inca Lunar Month : Hatun-pucuy

Inca solar month : Harvest of potato and other root crops

Ceremonies were held to increase the corn and other crops.

Fourth Month

Present day calendar : March

Inca Lunar Month : Pacha-pucuy

Inca solar month : Harvest of potato and other root crops

Ceremonies were held to ensure that the crops ripened properly. Other ceremonies were held where people deprived themselves of salt and fruit.

Fifth Month

Present day calendar : April

Inca Lunar Month : Ayruhua

Inca solar month : Protecting corn field from deer, foxes.

Ceremonies honoring the Inca king were held.

Sixth Month

Present day calendar : May

Inca Lunar Month : Ayruhua

Inca solar month : Corn harvested

They enjoyed the celebration of corn harvested. Feast of Aymara was enjoyed with singing, drinking and dancing.

Seventh Month

Present day calendar : June

Inca Lunar Month : Inti Raymi

Inca solar month : Large potatoes were harvested and others planted

They enjoyed the Inti Raymi festival. Inti Raymi festival was the biggest festival of the year. People from all over Inca empire moved to Cusco during this festival. This festival is staged every year in present days.

Eighth Month

Present day calendar : July

Inca Lunar Month : Chahua - huarquiz

Inca solar month : Storage of potatoes and other crops

They enjoyed festival of harvest and ceremonies regarding irrigation.

Ninth Month

Present day calendar : August

Inca Lunar Month : Yapaquiz

Inca solar month : Planting of the corn and potato crops

Sacrificed were made to all the Gods in this month, specially to those who were related to force of nature. Feast of tilling was conducted. Land was tilled for the next growing season.

Tenth Month

Present day calendar : September

Inca Lunar Month : Coya Raymi

Inca solar month : Planting of the corn and potato crops

This time great feast for moon was celebrated. Also this is the month of purification. Cusco is purified. In the process of purification nobles sacrificed. Sacred idols of conquered were brought to Cusco to pay their homage to King. Eleventh Month

Present day calendar : October

Inca Lunar Month : Kantaray

Inca solar month : nothing specific

This was the driest season of the year. So they held ceremonies where they prey to their God for rainfall.

Twelfth Month

Present day calendar : November

Inca Lunar Month : Ayamarca

Inca solar month : Irrigation of the corn fields

The festival of dead were conducted in this month. They brought the dead bodies to main square of the city. But it was not the dead bodies. They actually carried the mummies of dead kings only. Mummies were dresses in valuable cloths. Then they were offered foods. People sang and danced around those mummies in main square.

NOTES: Remember they are in South America, and their summers are our winters. So planting and harvesting seasons would not correspond to our planting and harvesting seasons. I will make no efforts at this time to “interpret” anything much t this time. I am just gathering up information. Maybe later.

Northern Tribal Calendar Customs

When I read something online I might get curious. And this whole thing about calendars had made me curious for years. I've been intrigued for a long time. Any farming culture needs to know when to plant, cultivate and harvest their crops. They must find a way to preserve this information from year to year, generation upon generation. So I have gone online to find out what North American tribes might have tried to do as well as those in Central and South America. I discovered a little bit. I am trying to list those things for which there is documentation.

Winnebago of Wisconsin

https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/05/science/respect-grows-for-skills-of-northern-indians.html

About the Archive This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions.

DAZZLED by the grandeur of the Maya and Inca civilizations to the south, anthropologists have often overlooked or underestimated the achievements of the North American Indians. They stood in awe of Mayan astronomy and calendars, for example, and assumed that the ''skywatchers'' of the northern tribes did little more than plot the seasons. This attitude is changing, however. New studies of rock carvings and other artifacts have revealed that these Indians apparently engaged in elaborate observations of the sun, moon and stars. And now an archeologist, analyzing a ''calendar stick'' made by the Winnebago Indians, has discovered what he believes is the first evidence that the North American Indians had developed advanced full-year calendars based on systematic astronomical observation. The archeologist, Alexander Marshack, found that carved markings on the wooden calendar stick were notations of a precise lunar year and solar year, but made without numbers because the Indians did not have a number system. The lunar year, divided into 12 months, was remarkably close to the astronomically correct 354 days. Since the solar year, which the Winnebagos also plotted, is slightly more than 11 days longer, the stick contained markings for a leap-year adjustment. Every three years, according to notations at the bottom of the stick, the Winnebago calendar provided for an extra month of 23 days to match the lunar year with the solar year, which was of more practical importance to the hunters and farmers.

''That's very sophisticated stuff for a people who didn't have writing or high arithmetic,'' said Dr. Marshack, who is a research associate at Harvard University's Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology. Dr. Marshack reported the results of his analysis in the current issue of American Antiquity, the journal of the Society for American Archeology. In the article, he concluded: ''The calendar stick is the most complex astronomical-calendric, problem- solving device known from the Americas outside the high Meso-American and Andean civilizations, but it is not derived from these late traditions. The analysis suggests the presence of an underlying observational conceptual base that may have come into the Americas from Asia.'' Dr. Marshack noted that early Siberian people had somewhat similar calendars. Scholars generally believe the first Americans migrated here from Asia, probably across a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska where the Bering Straits are today. Ray A. Williamson, author of ''Living the Sky: The Cosmos of the American Indian,'' said that Dr. Marshack's analysis of the Winnebago calendar stick was ''persuasive,'' and should inspire further research into the calendar-making practices of the Indians. Similar sticks from other tribes have been located, but have yet to be examined with care. Editors’ Picks

But Dr. Marshack's suggestion that the concept of calendar-making originated in Asia and was brought to the Americas by the early Indian settlers some 20,000 years ago was likely to be controversial, according to Dr. Williamson, because so little is definitely known about these people. ''It is an interesting theory,'' said Dr. Williamson, who is an archeo-astronomer, ''and it bears looking into.'' The object of Dr. Marshack's study is a 53-inch-long hickory stick carved with four sides. It is worn along the edges and discolored from the natural oils in the users' hands, indicating long use. Vertical marks are etched into the edges of the stick at regular intervals. Above them are small circles and symbols of the moon in all its phases. Thus are recorded the days of the lunar month, arranged in three parts for the periods of the waxing, full and waning moon. The stick was fashioned by the Winnebagos of Wisconsin in the early 19th century. In a portrait painted by a Government artist in the 1820's, Chief Tshi-zun-hau-kau of the Winnebagos is shown with the three symbols of his status and authority: an ax in his left hand indicating his role as a warrior, the wooden calendar stick in his right hand and a pendant hanging from his neck apparently indicating treaty ties with the United States Government. Influence on Tribal Life The keeper of the calendar stick presumably exerted a great influence on the structure of tribal life throughout the year. He knew when to plant, harvest and hunt. He knew when to call for the ritual festivals. In all likelihood, according to Dr. Marshack, Chief Tshi-zun-hau-kau went out at sunrise and sunset to watch the position of the sun on the horizon and to observe the phases of the moon. He then marked what he saw on the stick, which, Dr. Marshack said, is the first indication that North American Indians recorded the structure of the entire year, day by day, by watching the sky. It was previously assumed that the Indians had only a generalized calendar of lunar months, which were described in terms of seasonal phenomena, such as ''planting moon'' or ''moon of the ripe corn.'' For years, Dr. Marshack said, scholars of the early Indians tended to ''denigrate the nonarithmetic, nonscientific, and seemingly amorphous nature of these indigenous North American Indian 'calendars.' '' And, though they knew of the calendar sticks, they treated them as ceremonial curiosities and, as Dr. Williamson said, never asked themselves ''the right questions'' about the meaning of the markings.

The stick was in the possession of the Cranbrook Institute of Science at Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Except for a brief description of it in a 1945 bulletin, the stick had escaped scientific scrutiny. ''None of the extant calendar sticks has previously been analyzed to determine the information and astronomical concepts they represent,'' Dr. Marshack wrote. Other specialists in Indian astronomy reported recently that the Hopi Indians of New Mexico had also added one month every three years to bring the lunar and solar years in phase. But this report was based on records written by the Hopi in the late 19th century that contained dates for tribal events, not on an actual calendar that has survived. The Winnebago calendar stick, created by people considered preliterate and prescientific, is ''intriguing,'' Dr. Marshack said, ''because it's so complicated and sophisticated, nobody would have believed it could have existed in North American Indian culture.''