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The Dogon people of Mali are reputed to possess detailed knowledge about the Sirius star system, particularly about Sirius B, a dense white dwarf star. This extraordinary knowledge includes details that modern science only confirmed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Below is a summary of the knowledge attributed to the Dogon, often through their oral traditions:
1. Sirius as a Binary System
The Dogon reportedly identify Sirius A (the brightest star visible from Earth) as part of a system that includes Sirius B, a companion star that is extremely dense and not visible to the naked eye.
They describe Sirius B as a very small, dense, and heavy star, which aligns with modern scientific understanding of it as a white dwarf.
2. Orbital Period
The Dogon tradition states that Sirius B orbits Sirius A with a precise orbital period of approximately 50 years.
This matches the scientific calculation of Sirius B’s orbital period around Sirius A, which is 50.1 years.
3. Density and Composition
The Dogon describe Sirius B as made of a material called “sagala,” which they say is the heaviest substance in existence. This correlates with the modern understanding of white dwarfs, which are composed of degenerate matter and are among the densest objects in the universe.
4. The Presence of a Third Star
The Dogon also speak of a possible third star in the Sirius system, sometimes referred to as Sirius C or “Emme Ya.” While modern science has not conclusively proven the existence of Sirius C, there have been occasional speculations about its potential presence based on gravitational anomalies in the Sirius system.
5. Astronomical Diagrams
Dogon cosmological symbols include drawings and descriptions of elliptical orbits and the relationship between Sirius A and Sirius B. These align with the scientifically observed behavior of the Sirius binary system.
6. Association with Water and Creation
The Dogon link Sirius, particularly Sirius B, with water and fertility, reflecting the amphibious nature of the Nommos beings they revere. This connection has symbolic and possibly astronomical significance, as Sirius’s heliacal rising was historically tied to the flooding of the Nile in ancient Egypt.
7. Timing of Sirius B’s Discovery
Sirius B was first theorized in 1844 by Friedrich Bessel due to irregularities in Sirius A’s motion, and it was visually confirmed in 1862 by Alvan Clark using a telescope. However, the Dogon reportedly had this knowledge through oral tradition long before contact with modern science or telescopes.
