Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Enigmatic Designs Found in India May Be The Largest Images Ever Made by Human Hands
Science Alert ^ | May 26, 2021 | Peter Dockrill

Posted on 05/26/2021 9:07:56 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

These newly discovered designs are of such immense scale, they were likely never able to be glimpsed in their entirety by those who made them, researchers say.

The huge motifs are examples of geoglyphs – giant hand-made depictions and patterns built upon or carved into the land, often occupying such scope that the true appearance of their forms can only be appreciated from far above.

Amongst all known geoglyphs of historical relevance – including the famous Nazca Lines of Peru – the Thar Desert formations appear to stand alone, however, representing what may actually be the largest-ever graphical depictions designed by humans...

Discovered by a pair of independent researchers from France – Carlo and Yohann Oetheimer – the new geoglyphs were spotted using Google Earth, during a virtual survey of the Thar Desert region (also known as the Great Indian Desert); this region encompasses some 200,000 square kilometers (roughly 77,000 square miles) of territory overlapping India and Pakistan.

Amidst this huge, dry landscape, the Oetheimers identified several sites located around the 'Golden City' of Jaisalmer, marked by geometrical lines resembling geoglyphs.

Closer inspection during a field study in 2016 using an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) revealed some of the identified sites were furrows dug for tree plantations, but also helped reveal a cluster of enigmatic line formations seemingly absent of trees.

In particular, two "remarkable geometrical figures" of exceptional character close to the village of Boha stood out: a giant spiral and a serpent-shaped drawing, each connected by a cluster of sinuous lines.

(Excerpt) Read more at sciencealert.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: epigraphyandlanguage; geoglyphs; godsgravesglyphs; india
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-52 next last
To: Red Badger

They might be really old. The Sahara was way more green 5000 years ago.


21 posted on 05/26/2021 9:41:34 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Rurudyne

Silbury Hill?

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/silbury-hill

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1798602/posts
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1832542/posts
https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1920515/posts

Longleat Hedge Maze
Wiltshire, England
https://assets.atlasobscura.com/media/W1siZiIsInVwbG9hZHMvcGxhY2VfaW1hZ2VzLzgwMHB4LUxvbmdsZWF0LW1hemUuanBnIl0sWyJwIiwidGh1bWIiLCIxMjAweD4iXSxbInAiLCJjb252ZXJ0IiwiLXF1YWxpdHkgODEgLWF1dG8tb3JpZW50Il1d/800px-Longleat-maze.jpg


22 posted on 05/26/2021 9:43:37 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv; MtnClimber

I see bikini tops, or, a celebration of the feminine form...

Am I the only one?

(This happens to me sometimes on the APOD thread.)


23 posted on 05/26/2021 9:45:00 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

That looks like something to do with agriculture, especially the one on the top right, terracing.


24 posted on 05/26/2021 9:45:20 AM PDT by Pollard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Pollard

Look at the scale........................


25 posted on 05/26/2021 9:47:12 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido

Looking at that is like trying to pick out a good landing spot when your engine quits at 8000 feet.


26 posted on 05/26/2021 9:47:23 AM PDT by Laslo Fripp (The Sybil of Free Republic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
"some of the identified sites were furrows dug for tree plantations"

I think they are saying the ancient lines that look like irrigation ditches are really just modern irrigation ditches. But the squiggly ditch next to them really is ancient art and not where the modern tractor driver was goofing around.

27 posted on 05/26/2021 9:54:05 AM PDT by UnwashedPeasant (Trump is the last legally elected U.S. President.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
More geoglyphs. The ancient people of Iowa were warning us about Global Warming and Capitalism.


28 posted on 05/26/2021 10:01:58 AM PDT by UnwashedPeasant (Trump is the last legally elected U.S. President.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
That one on the top right us maybe 800 meters length ways? Look at the pyramids. When you have a LOT of labor, large projects are easier.

Look at some examples of large terraced agriculture; https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=large+terraced+agriculture


29 posted on 05/26/2021 10:08:21 AM PDT by Pollard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
Mom, we're bored.

YOU KIDS GO OUTSIDE THIS MINUTE AND FIND SOMETHING TO DO!!! Or I'll GIVE you something to do!

30 posted on 05/26/2021 10:09:39 AM PDT by Old Student (As I watch the balkanization of our nation I realize that Robert A. Heinlein was a prophet. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

That’s reading a lot into these lines. Nazca Lines they ain’t. The serpent-like figure is connected to the main assortment on the left, so it might not have even intended to be its own thing. The figures they describe as giant and small spirals aren’t very good spiral shapes. I can think of possibilities besides religious or artistic.


31 posted on 05/26/2021 10:09:48 AM PDT by Stravinsky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dead

// ...random squiggly line... //

RSL for short ... I like it!

Your home page is wonderful, always.


32 posted on 05/26/2021 10:11:53 AM PDT by cyn (An appeal to heaven)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Those appear to be tracks left by off-road vehicles before they were banned in the 4th century B.C.


33 posted on 05/26/2021 10:14:44 AM PDT by Ben Hecks (Don't Google it - Duck it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: UnwashedPeasant

*hits hand on forehead*

Why of course! Global warming and capitalism!

Probably white supremacy and privilege as well!

Those ancient folks were pretty advanced!


34 posted on 05/26/2021 10:14:53 AM PDT by proud American in Canada (Fear is a reaction; courage is a decision. Winston Churchill )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Old Student

// Mom, we’re bored.
YOU KIDS GO OUTSIDE THIS MINUTE AND FIND SOMETHING TO DO!!! Or I’ll GIVE you something to do! //

ROFL! Says every mother ever alive, and as plausible as anything else.


35 posted on 05/26/2021 10:15:23 AM PDT by cyn (An appeal to heaven)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: DesertRhino
They might be really old.

Like way back when the dead sea was only sick.......

36 posted on 05/26/2021 10:21:23 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
It's obviously a tank warfare training ground / test course.


37 posted on 05/26/2021 10:28:10 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session" - Gideon J. Tucker)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: 9422WMR

That’s what I thought. They mention that some of the lines had trees growing in them and others did not. So maybe they all had trees in the past.


38 posted on 05/26/2021 11:13:57 AM PDT by edwinland
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

I am seeing several bikini tops. Seems to be an early Bronze Age Coppertone ad.


39 posted on 05/26/2021 11:38:01 AM PDT by Honest Nigerian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Me too. See post #39.
And I posted that before I saw your post.


40 posted on 05/26/2021 11:45:14 AM PDT by Honest Nigerian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-52 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson