Gerald Hawkins

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Gerald Stanley Hawkins (1928–2003) was an astronomer and author most famous for his work in the field of archaeoastronomy.

He was born in Great Yarmouth and studied physics and mathematics at the University of Nottingham. In 1952 he took a PhD in radio astronomy studying under Sir Bernard Lovell at the University of Manchester.

In 1957 he became professor of Astronomy and chairman of the department at Boston University in the United States of America. He wrote widely on numerous subjects including tektites, meteors and the steady-state universe theory.

He also applied the technological resources of the university to studying the astronomical alignments of ancient megalithic sites. He fed the positions of standing stones and other features at Stonehenge into an early IBM 7090 computer and used the mainframe to model sun and moon movements. In his 1965 book, Stonehenge Decoded, Hawkins argued that the various features at the monument were arranged in such a way to predict a variety of astronomical events.

By interpreting Stonehenge as a giant prehistoric computer, Hawkins' work re-assessed what had previously been seen as a primitive temple. The archaeological community was sceptical and his theories were pulled apart by such noted prehistorians as Richard Atkinson who denounced the book as being ...tendentious, arrogant, slipshod, and unconvincing. It sold widely however and was especially popular amongst the members of 1960s counter culture who found that it followed a similar 'wisdom of the ancients' line explored by Alexander Thom. Hawkins' theories still inform popular opinion of Stonehenge although archaeologists are cautious to accept them.

He later examined the Nazca lines in Peru and the temple of Amun at Karnak but continued to study Stonehenge up until his death.

See also Aubrey holes