LOOKING THROUGH A TELESCOPE WITH AN OBSIDIAN MIRROR. COULD SPECIALISTS OF ANCIENT CULTURES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VIEW THE NIGHT SKY USING SUCH AN INSTRUMENT?

Abstract

Convex cut mirrors manufactured from the volcanic glass obsidian had been known since Neolithic time (7400/7100 to about 6200 BCE) in Çatalhöyük, Turkey. A Herschelian type telescope made with an obsidian mirror ( 12 cm) allowed to see the Moon‟s craters sharp and distinct, the phases of Venus as well as the discs of Venus and Jupiter. The moons of Jupiter however are not visible due to the low degree of reflection of the used obsidian mirror. A specimen with a much better reflection or a bigger one would result in im- proved views of celestial objects. The paper reports on the making of the telescope and its potential applica- tion. Moreover, as a general basis, the study addresses the prehistory and symbolism of mirrors, with special focus on a possible assignment for skywatching.