Astrophysicist connects modern science with the traditions of South Africa's indigenous peoples

South African researcher Anton Binneman has proposed an unconventional approach to fostering dialogue between modern astrophysics and the ancient knowledge of indigenous peoples. The results of his multi-year work have been published in the Journal of Science Communication.

How the Research Was Conducted

Before the construction of the MeerKAT and SKA-Mid radio telescopes in the Karoo region, an environmental and social assessment of the area was required. As part of this work, Binneman met over the course of about ten years with 52 elders from tribes descended from the San people.

To understand how the astronomical knowledge of the local inhabitants had been preserved, the researcher turned to a 19th-century archive. Linguists Wilhelm Bleek and Lucy Lloyd had recorded numerous local stories in their time. Comparing the old recordings with what is told today revealed an intriguing picture: some stories have been lost, while others have changed and adapted to new ways of life.

Venus is still called the "farmer's clock," and the Milky Way is still known as the "sky road." At the same time, the myth of a girl who scattered ashes to create the galaxy is now barely remembered by the younger generation.

"Stories do not freeze in time. Language develops, the way people relate to the sky changes, and our knowledge of the Universe changes too. Local traditions evolve together with the communities that tell them," Anton Binneman explained.

A New Model for Working with Knowledge

On the basis of the collected materials, the researcher proposed a "Dialogical Model of Knowledge Renewal." It does not seek to restore an "authentic" ancient astronomical tradition at all costs. Instead, the model brings together three sources: historical archives, the living memory of contemporary inhabitants, and the data of modern science.

This approach has already produced practical results. The project has helped train astronomical guides in Africa and develop astrotourism in the Karoo region.

Why This Matters

According to Binneman, recognising that sky-watching has a history stretching back thousands of years changes how local people relate to large scientific facilities. Massive radio telescopes are no longer perceived as an alien intrusion of technology. People begin to see them as a continuation of the ancient tradition of looking at the sky—only now with new instruments.

In the end, science and cultural memory are not pitted against each other but mutually reinforce an interest in understanding the Universe.

In Brief

South African researcher Anton Binneman spent about ten years studying the astronomical traditions of the San people's descendants in the Karoo region. By comparing contemporary stories with 19th-century records, he showed that myths about celestial objects are partly preserved and partly transformed. On this basis, the scientist proposed a model that combines archives, the memory of local inhabitants, and modern astronomy. The approach is already helping to develop astrotourism and change people's attitudes towards large radio telescopes.