Worlds first astronomers could have been Australia's Aborigines

The ancient world was home to many accomplished astronomers, included the Greeks, Mayans, Polynesians, and maybe Stonehenge's mysterious builders. But perhaps more than 10,000 years before these cultures looked to the sky, Australian Aborigines were the world's first stargazers.

In general, ancient astronomers used their knowledge of the stars for utilitarian purposes, such as timing the passage of seasons or navigating across great distance. Of course, even these strictly practical applications required extensive astronomical know-how, with some specially trained ancients keeping star maps in their heads so detailed that only modern computers can really rival them.

And now we may discovered the world's first known astronomers: the indigenous people of Australia. According to Ray Norris of Australia's Commonwealth Science and Research Organization, aboriginal culture was deeply intertwined with the stars, dating back several millennia before we see the first evidence of astronomical activity elsewhere.

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