The Western Han Dynasty Pyramids and their Orientation in TessaDEM Elevation Maps
Abstract
The burial complexes of the Western Han dynasty have two main elements, which are the huge pyramidal mounds of the emperor and his empress. Besides these pyramidal pair mounds, also known as Chinese Pyramids, each burial complex included a mausoleum city and a satellite burial area. In 2012, we discussed a possible orientation of the two main pyramids according to the sunrise and sunset on solstices and equinoxes. Here we must consider again this solar orientation in the framework of another relevant aspect of the Chinese Pyramids Xianyang’s area, that is the geographical location according to elevation maps. TessaDEM kindly provides the elevation maps, via the topographic-map.com web site. Interestingly, the maps are showing that the position and orientation of the pyramids is consistent with local elevation profiles.