2012 Chautauqua Program - Zenith Passage in Java

The Hindu Temples of Prambanan

Archaeoastronomy and Geometry in the Ancient Temples of Java, Indonesia:

Borobudur, Prambanan, and Yogyakarta

October 9 - 16, 2012

Instructor: Dr. Ed Barnhart

Course Description:

Sometime during the 9^th century AD the incredible Hindu and Buddhist temple complexes of Central Java were abandoned and their creators moved east. For the next thousand years they lay under increasingly deep layers of volcanic ash, virtually disappearing from the face of the Earth. Though they have been found and slowly uncovered over the last century, few studies regarding their nature have been conducted. Sanskrit texts found here and there provide their names, when they were built, and the kings that commissioned them, but little is known of the culture that used them. This eight day course will investigate the architectural elements of temples of Central Java with a focus on finding evidence of ancient astronomy and geometry.

The timing of this course was specifically chosen to coincide with zenith passage in the region - October 13^th at 7.5 degrees south latitude. Previous Chautauqua courses to Angkor, Cambodia found good evidence of zenith passage knowledge and the trail now leads back to Java, where the first king of Angkor was known to be held captive before establishing the Khmer Empire in 804 AD. Dr. Barnhart theorizes the same zenith passage oriented architecture will be found in Central Java.

Yogyakarta will be the home base for the course, with day trips visiting the temple complexes of Borobudur, Prambanan, and a number of others in the region. Previous studies at Prambanan (said to be the largest Hindu temple complex in the world) have already found evidence of an ancient awareness of zenith passage and for that reason the actual day of zenith passage will be spend there. The other focus of the course will be the search for geometry in temple designs. Simple measurement experiments will be conducted to determine if certain proportions, generally called “sacred geometry” can be found to repeat with the architecture. In addition to the temple visits, the course will visit local museums, markets, outdoor theatre productions, coastal villages, and the still active Volcano Merapi which looms over the city of Yogyakarta.

Click for a more detailed itinerary

For people interested in:

Ancient culture, mathematics, astronomy, religious studies, architecture, geography, archaeology, anthropology, history, art history, sociology, philosophy and other related social sciences fields.

Prerequisites:

While not a requirement, participants are encouraged to have at least some knowledge of ancient and modern Javanese culture. Dr. Ed Barnhart can recommend readings for those interested in learning more before the trip. The tours will not be strenuous, but will involve long, hot days in humid weather. Participants are encouraged to consult their personal physicians about any vaccinations that may be required. Indonesia allows tourists from the United States a “visa on arrival” to visit Java for 30 days for $25.

About your instructor:

Dr. Ed Barnhart has worked in Mexico and Central America for the last twenty years as an archaeologist, an explorer, and an instructor. During his four years as the student of Dr. Linda Schele (world renowned for finally breaking the Maya code of hieroglyphics in 1973) he developed a strong background in Maya hieroglyphics, calendar systems, iconography, and archaeoastronomy. During his graduate career, South American iconography and shamanism were also major foci of his studies. From 1998 to 2000 he was the Director of the Palenque Mapping Project, an archaeological survey that discovered over 1000 new structures in the Maya ruins of Palenque. He received his Ph.D. in Anthropology at The University of Texas at Austin in 2001 and is now the Director of the Maya Exploration Center, a non-profit research center based in Austin , Texas and Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. He and his team are currently investigating archaeoastronomy and ancient geometry in the ruins of Central America, South America, and Cambodia. Visit www.mayaexploration.org for more information about Dr. Barnhart and the Maya Exploration Center.

Costs:

$1600.00 for double lodging

$2000.00 for single room lodging

Costs include:

Lodging in Yogyakarta - TBA

Lodging in Prambanan - TBA

Ground Transportation

Breakfasts

Final group dinner at closing ceremonies

Museum entry fees

Temple/park entry fees

Ramayana Theatre Performance

Flights:

Participants are responsible for arranging their own flight reservations to and from Yogyakarta, Java and, if needed, their overnight on the way. Since participants come from all over the country, recommending a single flight is impossible. Yogyakarta is a popular destination and there are many flight options flying through Jakarta, Bali, or Singapore. As of October 2011, the average flight from the USA to Yogyakarta is running about $1800-2200.

Costs do not include:

Airfare to/from Yogyakarta

lunches and dinners (except the last night)

travel insurance

tips for service providers (drivers, waiters, maid staff, etc.)

Hotels during the course:

TBA

To secure a place in the course a deposit of $300 to Ahau Travel is required.

The balance payment will then be due 60 days before the course.

We request your deposit by check to:

Ahau Travel

3267 Bee Caves Rd

Suite 107-161

Austin, Texas 78746

Or you can pay with a credit card through Paypal.com with the button below

When it becomes available, you must also fill out the 2012 Chautauqua Program registration form and pay the $100 registration fee at:

http://www.edb.utexas.edu/csme/

Immunizations:

Participants in Dr. Barnhart’s courses always ask about whether they need pre-course immunizations. Dr. Barnhart is not a medical professional and this is a question he cannot and should not answer. Each participant should consult his or her personal physician before the course.

Money:

For money in Java, we highly recommend an ATM card and/or a credit card. ATM's are everywhere in Yogyakarta and available 24-hours a day. You can also use a credit card with a pin number (if you know the pin number). Travelers checks are very difficult to exchange and you could end up spending the entire day at the bank. US dollars can be exchanged at change houses, but only perfect, unmarked bills.

Please change some U.S. money in the United States into Indonesian Rupiahs. The exchange rate as of October 2011 is 1 US Dollar = 8692 Rupiahs. International airports have several places to change money. You're going to be a millionaire!

The View from Borobudur

Detailed Itinerary for the 2012 Java Course