I am amazed at what astute astronomers some ancient people were.
When my husband and I visited the Mayan ruins of Tulum on the Yucatan peninsula a few years ago, we learned that the whole village of Tulum was built to be a calendar (as well as to fulfill a few other functions).
With our modern instruments, we no longer need to build to highlight celestial features. We may have lost some creativity as a result.
We specialized, and lost track of the world around us as a result. We wait for someone else to tell us it is going to rain, instead of check the sky, the flies, tree leaves turning over, or the way smoke rolls downwind. Most (first world) people don't pay any attention at all now. The ancients had to--their lives and livelihoods depended on it.