A study published Wednesday revealed what might be the first ever “blueprints” of mysterious megalithic structures, created by ancient humans some 7,000 to 9,000 years ago.
Archaeologists discovered the ancient engravings of what appeared to be vast animal traps known as “desert kites” in south-eastern Jordan and northern Saudi Arabia, according to the published data. A majority of ancient stone engravings of maps and design plans found in the past are non-accurate representations, but those discussed in the study are described as “exceptional” and “the up-to-now oldest realistic plans that have been engraved on stones.”
“Desert kites” are prehistoric structures used to trap and hunt wild animals en masse, the authors note. The enormous structures are made of a series of stone alignments and walls, and could be up to five kilometers long.
#Neolithic #DesertKites back in the news! Thanks to a new study (by esteemed colleagues) on some of the #RockArt not only depicting those #hunting traps, but apparently did so *to scale*!https://t.co/4OYC7ISw8s by @DrKillgrove for @LiveScience
— Jens Notroff (@jens2go) May 17, 2023
“The extreme precision of these engravings is remarkable, representing gigantic neighboring Neolithic stone structures, the whole design of which is impossible to grasp without seeing it from the air or without being their architect (or user, or builder). They reveal a widely underestimated mental mastery of space perception, hitherto never observed at this level of accuracy in such an early context,” the study authors wrote in the abstract of their work, shedding light on the marvel that is this new discovery.
The study’s co-lead author Remy Crassard believes that the true scale of the precision and design can only be appreciated in its fullest when viewing the site from the air. “The amazing discovery is that the plans are to scale,” he told Scientific American, noting how this type of mathematical accuracy has not been widely seen in structures from ancient humans. (RELATED: Ancient Large-Scale Mining Discovery Near Lake Superior Starts To Rewrite Native American History)
A number of other major archaeological discoveries are emerging from the region. In March, an ancient site was uncovered that appeared to be the oldest evidence of cattle domestication on the Arabian peninsula. The biggest mystery now revolves around who made these structures, and how?