Observing solar alignments and seasons of the year has been done since Neolithic times.  Evidence of these ancient astronomers lies in their monuments of Stonehenge, Newgrange, the Orkneys, and a host of other alignment stones from Australia, Peru, the plains of Canada and around the world.

Tomb of Newgrange 17th Century Ivory Sundial Found at Jamestown Equation of Time - Clocks and Sundials
{wmv}Cultivating_Life{wmv} {wmv}Tomb_of_Newgrange|300|200{/wmv}
Cultivating Life - Sundial Discussing by Fred Sawyer Tomb of Newgrange - wmv