Native American Medicine Wheels (Rock and Crafted)
Channel: Adventures in Myth and History
Date: 2022-10-02

In this video, we look at crafted and stone-based circular creations, some of them now known as medicine wheels, exploring their possible ancient uses, their current uses, and the differences between them.  

The circle is a significant symbol in First Nation cultures. In general, the circle represents the cycle of life, the completeness of life and the world, and connection with the whole universe. It can also mean other related things depending on how the circle is constructed and its colors.


Table of Contents:
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - Significance of the circle
01:30 - Crafted Medicine Wheel
06:35 - Types of rock circles
07:23 - The Big Horn Medicine Wheel
09:15 - Purpose of the Big Horn Wheel
11:21 - Age of Big Horn wheel
12:01 - Big Horn star alignment hypothesis
13:27 - Probability of solstice alignment use

==========
Patreon:  patreon.com/TomOlzak
==========
My Cybersecurity Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUVwk67-aItVVAQZiCWka0g
==========
Selected Bibliography
Barnhart, E. (2018). Ancient Civilizations of North America. The Teaching Company. The Great Courses Course Guidebook

Bighorn Medicine Wheel. (n.d.). Solar Center Stanford. Retrieved September 24, 2022, from http://solar-center.stanford.edu/AO/bighorn.html

Breaking the Circle. (2016, October 16). Indigenous Religious Traditions. https://sites.coloradocollege.edu/indigenoustraditions/

Sun Dance (2018, January 8). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sun-Dance

Brumley, J. J. (1988). Medicine wheels on the northern plains : a summary and appraisal - Open Government. Open.alberta.ca. https://open.alberta.ca/publications/medicine-wheels-on-the-northern-plains-a-summary-and-appraisal

Eddy, J. A. (1974). Astronomical Alignment of the Big Horn Medicine Wheel. Science, 184(4141), 1035–1043. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.184.4141.1035

Elk, N. B., & Neihardt, J. G. (2014). Black Elk Speaks. University Of Nebraska Press.

Grinnel, G. B. (1922). The Medicine Wheel. American Anthropologist, 24(3), 299–310. https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1922.24.3.02a00020

Lakota Medicine Wheel. (n.d.). Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from https://aktalakota.stjo.org/lakota-culture/lakota-medicine-wheel/

Lundwall, J., & McHugh, J. (2021, March 1). Sun Writing of the Gods: Cosmological Orientation of Fremont Indian Petroglyphs. Ancient Origins Members Site. https://members.ancient-origins.net/articles/fremont-petroglyphs

Mendoza, R. G. (2017, December 21). How the Sun Illuminates Spanish Missions On the Winter Solstice. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-sun-illuminates-spanish-missions-on-winter-solstice-180967619/

Mingren, W. (n.d.). Mysteries of the Native American Medicine Wheel – Healing, Rituals, and Astronomical Aid. www.ancient-Origins.net. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-americas/mysteries-native-american-medicine-wheel-healing-rituals-and-astronomical-020888

Pitawanakwat, L. (n.d.). Four Directions Teachings.com - Aboriginal Online Teachings and Resource Centre - © 2006 - 2012 All Rights Reserved 4D Interactive Inc., a subsidiary of Invert Media Inc. Fourdirectionsteachings.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://fourdirectionsteachings.com/transcripts/ojibwe.html

Scherrer, D. (n.d.). Medicine Wheels and Cultural Connections Ancient and Mysterious Structures. http://solar-center.stanford.edu/AO/Medicine-Wheels.pdf

Simms, S. C. (1903). A Wheel-shaped Stone Monument in Wyoming. American Anthropologist, 5(1), 107–110. https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1903.5.1.02a00120

Towers, S. (2014, April 14). Archaeoastronomy: the folly of too many lines | Polymatheia. Sherrytowers.com. http://sherrytowers.com/2014/04/14/archeoastronomy-the-folly-of-too-many-lines/