More than 50 noteworthy ancient earthworks have been discovered in Kazakhstan , although archeologists are at a loss to excuse who made them and for what purpose . Thegeoglyphs , which have been compare to the famousNazca Linesof Peru , are scattered across a immense surface area of the Kazakh steppe , and were first discovered by archeology enthusiast Dmitriy Dey using Google Earth .
An international squad of researcher from the Lithuanian Institute of History and Kostanay University in Kazakhstan are now attempt to trace the age , significance and function of the man - made feature , yet have so far been left itch their heads . Speaking toLive Science , archeologists Irina Shevnina and Andrew Logvin explicate that “ we can say only one thing – the geoglyphs were ramp up by ancient people . By whom and for what purpose , remains a mystery . ”
photograph reference : DigitalGlobe via NASA
This uncertainty has led to speculation and disagreement about the nature of the earthworks . Dey and the team at Kostanay claim they could be up to 8,000 year older , base on how much the mounds has eroded and the geezerhood of Neolithic Flint found at the sites , and built as part of a sun - worshipping cult . However , Dr Giedre Motuzaite Matuzeviciute of the Lithuanian Institute of History disputes this and dates them at under 2,000 years old , using a different method call luminescence dating , which looks at vulnerability to sun over time . She toldNational Geographicthat they may have been “ built as a variety of landmark , something that could be seen from river valley far away . ”
Among the structures are a number of cross , rings , and a hooked cross that resemble an ancientswastika . This symbol has been found at ancient archaeologic sites across the world , rangingfrom engraving on Hindu temples to Nordic Harlan Stone sculpture , and has been associated with a number of dissimilar significance that are not related to its modern , damaging connotations .
