![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/georgedavidsonsolareclipse2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWritten by\u00a0Conny Waters \u2013 AncientPages.com<\/strong>\u00a0Staff Writer<\/p>\n First version of this article was published on April 3, 2020<\/em><\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 AncientPages.com<\/strong>\u00a0All rights reserved. This material may not be\u00a0published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com<\/p>\n Expand for references<\/span><\/p>\n References:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n
Conny Waters – AncientPages.com –<\/strong> Scientific curiosity and searching for knowledge can sometimes be dangerous. This is a lesson American astronomer and geographer George Davidson learned when he traveled with his research team to Klukwan, near Haines in southeast Alaska, in 1869.<\/p>\n Ancient people have always been fascinated with solar eclipses, but the understanding of this natural phenomenon has varied among civilizations.<\/p>\n Famous Greek philosopher and scientist Thales of Miletus<\/a><\/strong> (625 BC – 545 BC), who was recognized as one of the seven sages of ancient Greece, was a brilliant astronomer who predicted an eclipse of the su<\/strong>n<\/a> that occurred on 28 May 585 B.C.<\/p>\n George Davidson (1825 – 1911). Credit: Public Domain<\/em><\/p>\n Ancient civilizations found astronomical phenomena fascinating, and many studied the Sun, Moon, and other celestial objects regularly. Solar eclipses are often used as fixed point-to-date events in the ancient world. Using a combination of a Biblical text and an ancient Egyptian text, scientists have been able to pinpoint the date when world\u2019s oldest solar eclipse took place<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n The event, which occurred on 30 October 1207 BC, is mentioned in the Bible and could have consequences for the chronology of the ancient world.<\/p>\n Ancient people studied solar eclipses regularly. Our ancestors were so impressed that some ancient solar eclipses re-wrote history<\/strong><\/a>. There were also moments when the darkness of the skies was seen as an omen or sign from God. Some ancient solar eclipses have stayed in people’s memory for generations.<\/p>\n Some civilizations found solar eclipses very frightening, and this fact saved George Davidson’s life.<\/p>\n Davidson visited Alaska primarily to observe a total solar eclipse occurring on August 7, 1869. He made his headquarters at an Indian village thirty miles from the mouth of the Chilkat River.<\/p>\n Davidson and his team selected this particular place because they knew it would be particularly clear to observe the upcoming solar eclipse.<\/p>\n However, a Native American tribe in the valley spotted the scientists, and the suspicious locals became angry and threatening.<\/p>\n When Davidson explained that a solar eclipse would occur the following day, the Indians temporarily left them alone.<\/p>\n When the eclipse really happened, the Indians fled, and the sudden darkness saved the scientists’ lives. Later, the Indians returned, and they were very impressed with Davidson\u2019s knowledge of the event they had witnessed. The solar eclipse led to a remarkable intellectual potlatch<\/a>, <\/strong>an ancient North American Indian tradition of ceremonial exchange of gifts.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the days afterwards, Davidson made a painting on a cedar plank of the sun and its corona, as he had seen it at totality in his specially prepared telescope.\u201d<\/p>\n In exchange, Kohklux and his wives made a large map for Davidson, presenting the complex geography of the main ancient trade routes used by the Chilkat Tlingit. 1<\/sup><\/p>\n \u201cAt his own suggestion Kohklux proposed to draw upon paper his route,\u201d Davidson later noted. \u201cKohklux started from his place at Klukwan and drew all around the paper and I gave him the back of an old map on which he and his wife drew their routes etc. in 1852.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/georgedavidsonsolareclipse3.jpg\")
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