Researchers Connect Indigenous Star Knowledge to One of Humanity’s Most Advanced Ground Telescope Projects

Researchers connected indigenous star knowledge to one of humanity's most advanced ground telescope projects, South Africa's MeerKAT and SKA-Mid telescopes. The study found that indigenous communities in South Africa have lost elements of their cosmic lore due to colonization and modernization. The research involved 52 elders and knowledge holders from local Indigenous communities, focusing on ethnoastronomical knowledge and how it changed over time. The study compared responses to celestial object images with stories from the late 19th century, revealing that some stories survived while others were erased from cultural memory. The researchers found that elements most relevant to modern life, such as Venus being known as The Farmer’s Clock, had the greatest staying power. The study highlights the importance of preserving indigenous cosmologies and connecting modern scientific projects with local culture. The paper, "San Ethnoastronomy and Cultural Memory: Reclaiming Indigenous Cosmologies in the Square Kilometre Array Construction Area," appeared in the Journal of Science Communication on August 31, 2026.

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