Post by theshee on Apr 4, 2012 21:31:02 GMT 10
While traditionally archaeologists in the region have concentrated upon the study of steppe sites, recent archaeological investigations have led to many unexpected discoveries in the southern Urals. This mountain and woodland area, where Stone Age settlements interpreted as short-term camps of hunters and fishers are known to have existed, was studied only incidentally. Now new systematic work has begun to alter our understanding of this region. For example, many megalithic sites with features in common with European megaliths (Grigoriev & Vasina 2010) have been located: some 300 are known but have not yet been studied in detail. The hill figure discovered on the Zjuratkul Ridge and reported here adds a new element to this region.
The geoglyph is located on the slope of Zjuratkul Ridge, near the lake of the same name in the Zjuratkul National Park (coordinates: 54°56'33"N, 59°11'32"E) (Figure1). The area of the geoglyph is crossed by an excursion track leading to the top of the ridge which dominates the surroundings. It was found by satellite imagery (visible on Google Earth, Figure 2) and subsequently surveyed by a hydroplane and a paraglider. It shows that, unlike the Nasca lines, the geoglyph is covered by a layer of soil and is visible only from a great height in the form of lines of a different colour.
Satellite photograph of the geoglyph on the Zjuratkul Ridge showing the figure (light lines) and an excursion path crossing it.
The area in which the geoglyph is located is quite flat, lying at the bottom of the most abrupt upper part of the ridge slope. It is thus perfectly visible from the ridge, and in antiquity people would have seen the geoglyph from there (Figures 3 & 4). This is also confirmed by the image orientation. The measurements of the figure are: 218m (WSW–ENE); 195m (NNW–SSE); 275m (NW–SE); the width of the lines is between 2 and 4m. The plan was drawn using the satellite image, with details checked against the hydroplane and paraglider photographs (Figure 5).
The geoglyph shows the outline of an animal with four legs, two antlers and a large projecting muzzle. The front legs are shorter and thinner than the hind legs. Antlers are stylized long bent lines. This is obviously a hoofed animal with antlers, such as an elk or a deer, but it is not possible to identify precisely which species is intended, as the antlers do not show any specific features. Unfortunately, the line of the back of the animal (which would allow us to differentiate an elk from a deer) is not visible, as it is hidden by trees. However, the large projecting muzzle suggests that the intention was probably to reproduce the most prominent features of an elk. No additional features were observed in the landscape, and the outline is visible in the form of small banks in some places only. Occasionally large stones are present on the surface, some coinciding with the outline, others outside it.
More here - www.antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/grigoriev331/
The geoglyph is located on the slope of Zjuratkul Ridge, near the lake of the same name in the Zjuratkul National Park (coordinates: 54°56'33"N, 59°11'32"E) (Figure1). The area of the geoglyph is crossed by an excursion track leading to the top of the ridge which dominates the surroundings. It was found by satellite imagery (visible on Google Earth, Figure 2) and subsequently surveyed by a hydroplane and a paraglider. It shows that, unlike the Nasca lines, the geoglyph is covered by a layer of soil and is visible only from a great height in the form of lines of a different colour.
Satellite photograph of the geoglyph on the Zjuratkul Ridge showing the figure (light lines) and an excursion path crossing it.
The area in which the geoglyph is located is quite flat, lying at the bottom of the most abrupt upper part of the ridge slope. It is thus perfectly visible from the ridge, and in antiquity people would have seen the geoglyph from there (Figures 3 & 4). This is also confirmed by the image orientation. The measurements of the figure are: 218m (WSW–ENE); 195m (NNW–SSE); 275m (NW–SE); the width of the lines is between 2 and 4m. The plan was drawn using the satellite image, with details checked against the hydroplane and paraglider photographs (Figure 5).
The geoglyph shows the outline of an animal with four legs, two antlers and a large projecting muzzle. The front legs are shorter and thinner than the hind legs. Antlers are stylized long bent lines. This is obviously a hoofed animal with antlers, such as an elk or a deer, but it is not possible to identify precisely which species is intended, as the antlers do not show any specific features. Unfortunately, the line of the back of the animal (which would allow us to differentiate an elk from a deer) is not visible, as it is hidden by trees. However, the large projecting muzzle suggests that the intention was probably to reproduce the most prominent features of an elk. No additional features were observed in the landscape, and the outline is visible in the form of small banks in some places only. Occasionally large stones are present on the surface, some coinciding with the outline, others outside it.
More here - www.antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/grigoriev331/
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