They might have gathered data through structures for viewing sky events. They might have had a cultural importance.
They were called symbolists
Maya Angelou was a civil rights activist . she fought for the right of African Americans. she helped gain more right for African Americans.
" Maya Angelou was an instrumental figure in the Civil Rights Movement through her organizational skills and writing abilities. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. chose Angelou to become a coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where she organized events to promote awareness of issues of race and freedom."
I don't know if this helps but I hope it does.
