Stone elk in the southern Urals. The moose geoglyph on Zyuratkul is larger than in the Nazca Desert! How was the geoglyph laid out?

The approximate age of a geoglyph discovered last year on a plateau at the foot of the Zyuratkul ridge in the Satka district of the Chelyabinsk region has been established. According to archaeologist Stanislav Grigoriev, the image of the “elk” was created from the 6th to the 3rd millennium BC. If the hypothesis is confirmed, the “Ural elk” will receive the title of the oldest geoglyph in the world.

A more precise date will be determined after spore and pollen analysis. It is quite possible that the Ural geoglyph is older than the famous representatives of the Peruvian “fauna” from the Nazca plateau, dating back to the middle of the 1st millennium BC. Looking at pictures of the plateau near Zyuratkul on Google Earth , you can distinguish an image on it - a muzzle extended to the north, four legs and a pair of horns of an animal similar to an elk. As for the tail, it is not visible in the new photographs as clearly as in the earlier ones. Last year, local historian Alexander Shestakov was the first to draw attention to the geoglyph, who for several years worked on the construction and improvement of an ecological trail in the Zyuratkul National Park. First, he noticed that there were no trees growing on the plateau of the mountain range at an altitude of 860 meters, and began to study photographs taken from space. The result was the discovery of a geoglyph, which was a giant image of an animal similar to an elk, 275 meters in diameter. The design is “laid out” on the ground with crushed stones and molding clay. The length of the stone strip from which the “elk” is made is more than 2 kilometers. Perhaps this man-made monument has a religious purpose. This, for example, is evidenced by the fact that it can only be seen from a bird's eye view. True, at the time when it was created, there were practically no forests in the Southern Urals - they appeared only 2.5 thousand years ago. The geoglyph could be seen from the neighboring hill. Moreover, as Alexander Shestakov notes: “Other grass grows on this line, that is, it differs from the general clearing. This grass blooms earlier, but turns yellow earlier, and therefore it is noticeable either in late autumn or early spring.” Regarding the stylized image "moose" also has its own versions. “The drawing is made in perspective: the elements closest to the viewer are larger, those further away are smaller,” notes Nikolai Menshenin, chief specialist of the Center for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Chelyabinsk Region. “The drawing will be more harmonious if the left horn and the line of the back are cleared.” According to the website Naurale com, according to Stanislav Grigoriev, a senior researcher at the Institute of History and Archeology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, “such megalithic objects are not works of art. This ritual object is not obliged to accurately convey the image, but must give a symbol. Its full meaning is, of course, for us. will never be able to be understood." If the alleged dating turns out to be correct, then we are dealing not only with the only one in Russia, but also with the most ancient geoglyph in the world. It was possible to determine the time of its creation based on the image of an animal's muzzle discovered during excavations at the site, which was chipped from the core. Nucleus is a piece of flint from which flakes or knife-like plates were cut to make stone tools. Numerous stone scrapers, axes and digging tools were found at the site. For the most part, hoes are found here, with the help of which, most likely, the ancient authors of the “elk” removed the top layer of soil and turned large boulders out of the ground. The time of creation of the geoglyph is far from the only mystery of this prehistoric monument. “If earlier it seemed that the object, although large in size, was quite primitive, that is, it consisted of two lines of large stones, between which stones of smaller diameter were piled, then now it is clear: among other things, crushed stones and molding clay were used here Why this was done is still a mystery,” the online publication reports. uralpress.ru with reference to Stanislav Grigoriev. Why is the elk depicted? One of the possible answers can be considered the myth of the “stolen sun”, reflecting the impressions of primitive people about a solar eclipse. Ancient people thought that it was an elk that swallowed up the star. They began to venerate him as a deity and make sacrifices to him. Another question is where is the site of the ancient South Urals people who built the geoglyph. The opinion of experts is clear: if there was a stable cultural tradition, therefore, there must be other geoglyphs that have not yet been found. Indeed, there are other megalithic sites in the Urals, one of the most interesting is located just 60 kilometers northeast of the “elk”. On the large island of Vera (also known as Pinaev or Pinaevsky) on Lake Turgoyak in the Southern Trans-Urals there are 50 archaeological sites occupying half of its territory. The area of the island is 6.5 hectares, the maximum width is 800 meters. The oldest buildings, mostly religious, date back to the Middle Paleolithic (60 thousand years ago), the newest were built in the 19th century.

Archaeologists have already called the monument a cult object. The outline of the elk was supposedly created in order to demonstrate it to Heaven. But scientists can’t add anything to this impressive statement. Another simpler version: the geoglyph is a dedication to the game animal elk. They hunted, they worshiped, and that’s what they did. This opinion is not at all good, because it raises a natural question: they hunted elk always and everywhere, so why was the geoglyph created only on Zyuratkul? They hunted bear, roe deer, wild boar, hare and other little things - and did they also make geoglyphs?

It is clear to the naked eye that a humanitarian approach to the study of yet another sensational monument will not bear fruit. This has already happened on “Arkaim”, the same thing happened on “Vera Island”, the same will happen on Zyuratkul.

And now a natural scientific solution to the problem

Such huge and expensive (in terms of labor and intellectual costs) structures are always and everywhere related to cosmology. The Zyuratkul geoglyph is no exception. This elk represents the constellation Elk. There is no such constellation on modern star maps - it was lost long ago by southern civilizations. But in the northern sky you can find the figure of a moose. And the Zyuratkul geoglyph will help in this hopeless matter. In the sky you need to find a double of the earthly figure. It turns out that the problem has a unique solution. Ancient Elk is now represented by six constellations at once: Perseus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Triangulum, Aries and Pisces. Lost Elk is a huge constellation. Now it is clearly visible in the southern winter sky. It is visible this winter, it will be visible next winter and many more winters in a row - precession is a slow thing - 1° in 72 years.

Ancient astronomy knew in this part of the sky several similar large constellations, which much later, already in the Greek sky, broke up into small fragments and characters. This was the Bull (modern constellations Taurus, Auriga and part of Orion), depicted in the French Laska cave (famous fresco with a dead man, 17 thousand years old). Such was the Great Mother (constellations Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Triangulum, Aries, Pisces). This constellation is depicted in abundance on painted pottery and small sculpture in the Middle East, Anatolia and the Balkans, and in the ceramic Neolithic and Chalcolithic cultures. Some historians call these cultures the "Great Mother Civilization." There are other constellations that were included in mythological stories and in the art of ancient people. None of the humanitarian historians see celestial constellations in these images. Because they don't know how to see. What is true is true. But this does not change the essence of the matter.

The highest point of Zyuratkul has coordinates 54° 57′ 25′′ N. 59° 10′ 48′′ E

From the top of the Zyuratkul ridge to the geoglyph from 1700 to 1900 m, azimuth from 151° to 158°

The middle of the figure is 1800 m away, azimuth 154.5° - south-southeast

The only problem is that to solve this simple cosmological problem you cannot use computer astronomical programs - in ancient times they lie shamelessly. These programs work great only on a short historical interval. They are not intended for excursions into the Paleolithic sky.

It remains to find a celestial analogue of the Elk, which in modern conditions and in the modern sky will play the same role that the Elk played in the Paleolithic. It turns out that there is only one constellation in the sky that can fully satisfy the refined taste of cosmologists. This constellation is now called Ophiuchus. Firstly, modern Ophiuchus in the starry sky is symmetrical to the ancient Elk. Secondly, now he lies on the celestial equator exactly the same way as Elk lay on the same celestial equator 11 thousand years ago. Consequently, the conditions and circumstances of the rising of Ophiuchus at the present time over Lake Zyuratkul for an observer at the top of the Zyuratkul ridge are identical to those for the end of the Paleolithic 11 thousand years ago. So much for celestial mechanics.

Now the situation can be easily simulated in an astronomical program and observed on the Zyuratkul ridge.

Simulations show Ophiuchus rising and moving into position June 22, that is, on the day of the summer solstice, 40 minutes or even an hour after sunset. And the Sun on the shortest day of the year sets at 22:43 local time. The same was observed in ancient times. At first, the stars of the Elk figure lit up against the background of the evening dawn (heliac sunrise), and both Elks were clearly visible at the same time. Then the sky darkened and the already bright starry Elk shifted to the south and stood exactly above the earthly figure of the Elk - the geoglyph.

There is one oddity in this reconstruction: the angular dimensions of the geoglyph for an observer on the Zyuratkul ridge are 7°, and the angular dimensions of the constellation are about 30°. In order for the sizes of the figures to coincide, you need to go down from the ridge and approach the feet of the earthly Elk at a distance of 365 meters. At the same time, the gap between the figures will also decrease - the entire water area of Lake Zyuratkul will no longer be visible between them.

By the way, this water area also resembles the figure of an elk. Its angular dimensions are about 60°. The head of this aquatic moose with large antlers is directed towards the viewer on the Zyuratkul ridge, and its legs are extended to the north. It “goes” from southeast to northwest. From the heavenly Elk to the earthly Elk. But there was another elk - the reflection of a starry beast on the smooth surface of the evening lake. So there were four Elks on Zyuratkul, not two. However, this amazing picture can be seen accurately and in detail only through direct observation on the ground.

The viewer, who finds himself in the right place at the right time and is initiated into the intricacies of cosmology, will experience strong aesthetic and spiritual experiences.

Now one can even think that the name of Lake Zyuratkul and the Zyuratkul ridge is somehow connected with the name of the celestial beast Elk and its earthly reflection - the geoglyph. It remains only to find out what language the inhabitants of these places spoke at the end of the Paleolithic. The name of the wonderful Aryan beast (undoubtedly an elk) is Sharabha with eight legs comes from the Ural-Altai “*sarta”, in the Mari and Mansi languages it has an analogue - the taboo name for elk - “sharp (shord)”. Horse of the Germanic Odin with eight feet, the son of Loki named Sleipnir (“Sliding One”), is an image of a completely different constellation, namely Pegasus Square.

Toponymists derive the Bashkir name Zyuratkul from Zyurak-kul and from Yurak-kul, that is, “Heart is a lake.” However, the Turks have been living in the Urals quite recently - they were not yet present in the Mesolithic and Neolithic. But there were Ugrians. If you listen closely, you can hear the ancient name of elk in “Zyurat-kul” and “Satka”.

But now we can calmly wait for the results of full-scale archaeological excavations. And now let only rare clever people and unique talents deny the very fact of the existence of the geoglyph, its observatory purpose, and the absolute (still preliminary, and therefore cautious) dating - 8 - 10 millennium BC.

Every region, region, and city in our country has its own places of amazing beauty and history that you want to visit yourself and be sure to take guests and friends there.

I never tire of being surprised and happy about my Ural. Every time I return from another trip, I thank fate for giving me the opportunity to live here, in this rich and amazingly beautiful region.

The other day, my group and I visited an ecopark of federal significance - Zyuratkul. I want to introduce you to this place too.

Here's some official information.

National Park "Zyuratkul"- Organized in 1993 and located in

Satka district. The total area is about 90 thousand hectares, the length from north to south is 49 km, from west to east - 28 km. The main objectives of the park: preservation of standard and unique monuments of nature, history, and archeology.

On the territory of the park there is Lake Zyuratkul - the only high-mountain lake on the western slope of the Southern Urals, it is located 724 m above sea level. The name of the lake originally sounded like “Yurak-Kul”, over time in Russian it turned into “Zyurak-Kul”, and then Zyuratkul, translated as “heart-lake”. According to legend, it came from a fragment of a mirror broken by a beauty named Yurma.

Lake Zyuratkul is a flowing reservoir; 29 rivers, streams, and springs flow into it, and one large river, Satka, flows out of the lake. Therefore, the water in the lake is suitable for drinking. The maximum depth of the lake is 12 meters.

There are many mountain ranges around the lake, Nurgush is the highest in the Southern Urals, with a height of 1406 meters, including the Zyuratkul ridge of the same name (length 8 km, height 1175.2 m).

90% of the territory is occupied by dark coniferous taiga; birch is found in some areas. From the Flora there are 653 plant species available here. 70 species of rare plants of the park are listed in the Red Book of Russia.

The fauna of “Zyuratkul” has 214 species, including: bear, wolf, fox, marten, ermine, elk, roe deer, wild boar, hares. There are also 17 species of fish (bream, perch, grayling, pike and others), 145 species of birds (golden eagle, peregrine falcon, eagle owl). Many species are listed in the Red Book of Russia.

On the shore of the lake, 12 sites of ancient people of two eras were discovered: the Mesolithic - 12 thousand years ago, the Neolithic - 6-3 thousand years ago. The exhibition of the Satka Museum of Local Lore presents many excavation items.

Now comes the fun part.

GEOGLYPH OF MOOSE

In 2011, a sensational discovery was made in the Chelyabinsk region - a giant geoglyph in the form of an Elk was discovered, which is located between Lake Zyuratkul and the Zyuratkul ridge. Similar to the famous Nazca paintings, only larger.

The discovery was made by a native of the city of Satka, Alexander Shestakov. He says that back in the late 80s he and a friend went on a hike to Zyuratkul. At the foot of the clearing, he saw that the grass was growing unevenly in some places, creating paths up and down. He walked for a long time, but did not see any sense in this labyrinth.

The solution was found in images from space - satellite maps. The drawing is so huge that it can only be seen in its entirety from a bird's eye view or from space.

Examining them, Shestakov discovered that the bizarre lines clearly formed an image. For a long time I could not understand which one. And then I read about the ancient legend of the tribes that inhabited this territory. It mentions a moose that swallowed the sun. After which people began to worship him.

The clearing with the geoglyph is located in a public place - on the territory of a national park. In the summer, thousands of tourists climb the ecological trail to the top of the Zyuratkul mountain range and literally trample the elk underfoot.

Over many thousands of years, the geoglyph was covered with a cultural layer, and it is quite difficult to notice it in our time. Now the five-meter strip of stones is covered with earth, and grass grows on it. But it blooms earlier and turns yellow earlier, so during periods of changing seasons the geoglyph line can be traced. There are also some areas of the picture where grass does not grow at all, and in some areas forest has long appeared. The satellite image shows the moose's head, four legs and horn very clearly.

In addition, it is not clear why this clearing has not been overgrown with forest for so many millennia. After all, all around are lush and sometimes impenetrable taiga thickets. Dating of the stonework suggests an age of 8-10 thousand years. Archaeologists have already called the monument a cult object. The outline of the elk was supposedly created in order to demonstrate it to Heaven.

Such huge structures are always and everywhere related to cosmology. The Zyuratkul geoglyph is no exception. This elk represents the constellation Elk. In the northern sky, thanks to the Zyuratkul geoglyph, you can find the figure of an elk.

Ancient Elk is now represented by six constellations at once: Perseus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Triangulum, Aries and Pisces. Elk is a huge constellation. These days it is clearly visible in the southern winter sky.

First, the stars of the Elk figure light up against the background of the evening dawn, and both Elks are clearly visible at the same time. Then the sky darkens and the already bright starry Elk moves to the south and stands exactly above the earthly figure of the Elk - the geoglyph.

By the way, the water area of Lake Zyuratkul also resembles the figure of an elk. The head of this aquatic moose with large antlers is directed towards the viewer on the Zyuratkul ridge, and its legs are extended to the north. It “goes” from southeast to northwest. From the heavenly Elk to the earthly Elk. But there was another elk - the reflection of a starry beast on the smooth surface of the evening lake. So there were four Elks on Zyuratkul, not two.

The Russian scientist Professor Chudinov, who is known for his ability to read inscriptions on stones, menhirs, seids, analyzed a photograph of the Elk geoglyph and concluded that the geoglyph itself is an ordinary lighthouse. Lighthouses were most often made by our ancestors in the form of animals. As a rule, our ancestors placed lighthouses near the corresponding temples.

So in this case, on the geoglyph there are the inscriptions LIGHTHOUSE and TEMPLE OF MARA. There is even an image of Mara's face. Generally speaking, before us is MARA YARA, so the ridge (which is signed like that, RANGE) is called the Mima Yara ridge (and not at all the Turkic word Zyuratkul), and the country itself was called Rus Yara.

And the kurumnik at the top of the ridge is what remains of the destroyed temple of Mary.

In May 2013, research began and aerial photography of the area above the territory of the Zyuratkul elk was carried out. We took 1500 pictures. It should be noted that in recent years the lake has become shallow and moved 20-30 meters away from its former shores.
And in the photo of the coastal part of the lake they found regular squares going deep into the depths. A report appeared in the press about an ancient city on Lake Zyuratkul.

At a press conference dedicated to the find, archaeologist Alexander Grigoriev said that the perpendicular stonework is presumably of the Neolithic era, the foundations are long, about 80-100 meters in length, running parallel, there are no analogues of such structures, except perhaps Atlantis.

It turns out that back in 1968, archaeologist Matyushin was excavating a Stone Age settlement on Cape Dolgiy Elnik. The size of the settlement is 2 kilometers by 300 meters. Ancient settlements on Lake Zyuratkul were dated to the 12th millennium BC.

Those. our city is 3 thousand years older than the biblical Jericho and 10 thousand years older than Arkaim itself, a country of cities in the south of the Chelyabinsk region. It existed for 10 thousand years.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of funds for research, they decided that they would not study the object for now, but would leave it in conservation until better times, when there would be funding for it.

The Zyuratkul Nature Reserve is considered the most environmentally friendly place in the Southern Urals and was recently included in the Sinegorye Federal program for tourism development.

Until our next meeting in Zyuratkul!

Irina Govorushko

In the fall of 2011, another historical sensation was born: the largest and most ancient geoglyph in the world was found in the Southern Urals. The Urals are rich in historical masterpieces: first “Arkaim”, then “Island of Vera”, and now “Moose of Zyuratkul”. “The porridge was made” by local historian Alexander Shestakov. Then the famous South Ural archaeologist S.A. got involved. Grigoriev. Archaeologist Grigoriev is known to the general public precisely because of the “Island of Vera” on Lake Turgoyak. However, Stanislav Arkadyevich also dug Arkaim. Together with the experienced archaeologist Nikolai Mikhailovich Menshenin, he managed to dig holes at the monument before the snow.

For reference: a geoglyph is a geometric or figured pattern applied to the ground, usually over 4 meters long. Many geoglyphs are so large that they can only be seen from the air. There are several ways to create geoglyphs: by removing the top layer of soil around the perimeter of the pattern, by pouring crushed stone where the pattern line should go, by planting trees that form the required pattern. Geoglyphs are still used for artistic purposes today.

The result of the first study greatly pleased enthusiasts, but upset skeptics. Firstly, there is undoubtedly a monument! A stone lining of artificial origin was discovered, that is, the lining was made by people intentionally. Secondly, there is no cultural layer on the monument. There are no artifacts, but there is buried soil, which, when compared with modern soil, can be approximately dated by its growth to the time of excavation - from 8 to 4 thousand years ago. Thirdly, due to the positive result of the excavation, a decision was made on a full-scale archaeological study. Excavations are planned to take place in the summer of 2013. Now all interested parties can and should postpone hasty assessments and wait for the results of the study.
Archaeologists have already called the monument a cult object. The outline of the elk was supposedly created in order to demonstrate it to Heaven. But scientists can’t add anything to this impressive statement. Another simpler version: the geoglyph is a dedication to the game animal elk. They hunted, they worshiped, and that’s what they did. This opinion is not at all good, because it raises a natural question: they hunted elk always and everywhere, so why was the geoglyph created only on Zyuratkul? They hunted bear, roe deer, wild boar, hare and other little things - and did they also make geoglyphs?
It is clear to the naked eye that a humanitarian approach to the study of yet another sensational monument will not bear fruit. This has already happened on “Arkaim”, the same thing happened on “Vera Island”, the same will happen on Zyuratkul.

And now a natural scientific solution to the problem

Such huge and expensive (in terms of labor and intellectual costs) structures are always and everywhere related to cosmology. The Zyuratkul geoglyph is no exception. This elk represents the constellation Elk. There is no such constellation on modern star maps - it was lost long ago by southern civilizations. But in the northern sky you can find the figure of a moose. And the Zyuratkul geoglyph will help in this hopeless matter. In the sky you need to find a double of the earthly figure. It turns out that the problem has a unique solution. Ancient Elk is now represented by six constellations at once: Perseus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Triangulum, Aries and Pisces. Lost Elk is a huge constellation. Now it is clearly visible in the southern winter sky. It is visible this winter, it will be visible next winter and many more winters in a row - precession is a slow thing - 1° in 72 years.

Ancient astronomy knew in this part of the sky several similar large constellations, which much later, already in the Greek sky, broke up into small fragments and characters. This was the Bull (modern constellations Taurus, Auriga and part of Orion), depicted in the French Laska cave (famous fresco with a dead man, 17 thousand years old). Such was the Great Mother (constellations Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Triangulum, Aries, Pisces). This constellation is depicted in abundance on painted pottery and small sculpture in the Middle East, Anatolia and the Balkans, and in the ceramic Neolithic and Chalcolithic cultures. Some historians call these cultures the "Great Mother Civilization." There are other constellations that were included in mythological stories and in the art of ancient people. None of the humanitarian historians see celestial constellations in these images. Because they don't know how to see. What is true is true. But this does not change the essence of the matter.

Why is the figure of the heavenly beast depicted in the clearing between the Zyuratkul ridge and Lake Zyuratkul? To answer this question you need to make a few simple measurements in the same Google Earth geoserver. Then you can find out that:
The highest point of Zyuratkul has coordinates 54° 57" 25"" N 59° 10" 48"" E.
From the top of the Zyuratkul ridge to the geoglyph from 1700 to 1900 m, azimuth from 151° to 158°
The middle of the figure is 1800 m away, azimuth 154.5° - south-southeast

Of particular importance is the azimuth and bearing south-southeast. It is necessary to understand when and under what circumstances the newly acquired constellation Elk rose above this part of the horizon for an observer standing at the highest point of the Zyuratkul ridge. It is necessary for the heavenly Elk to stand exactly above the earthly Elk, and both Elks must be visible at the same time. In this case, it is necessary to calculate the astronomical or calendar event occurring at the same moment. Winter and spring are excluded - the geoglyph is not visible under the snow. And autumn in the era of glaciations is not very suitable. The summer solstice remains. Now it's time to understand that for the observer, the summer solstice was the New Year. That's all. It's time to solve a problem from celestial mechanics.
The only problem is that to solve this simple cosmological problem you cannot use computer astronomical programs - in ancient times they lie shamelessly. These programs work great only on a short historical interval. They are not intended for excursions into the Paleolithic sky.
It remains to find a celestial analogue of the Elk, which in modern conditions and in the modern sky will play the same role that the Elk played in the Paleolithic. It turns out that there is only one constellation in the sky that can fully satisfy the refined taste of cosmologists. This constellation is now called Ophiuchus. Firstly, modern Ophiuchus in the starry sky is symmetrical to the ancient Elk. Secondly, now he lies on the celestial equator exactly the same way as Elk lay on the same celestial equator 11 thousand years ago. Consequently, the conditions and circumstances of the rising of Ophiuchus at the present time over Lake Zyuratkul for an observer at the top of the Zyuratkul ridge are identical to those for the end of the Paleolithic 11 thousand years ago. So much for celestial mechanics.
Now the situation can be easily simulated in an astronomical program and observed on the Zyuratkul ridge.
Modeling shows that Ophiuchus rises and moves into position on June 22, that is, on the day of the summer solstice, 40 minutes or even an hour after sunset. And the Sun on the shortest day of the year sets at 22:43 local time. The same thing was observed in ancient times. At first, the stars of the Elk figure lit up against the background of the evening dawn (heliac sunrise), and both Elks were clearly visible at the same time. Then the sky darkened and the already bright starry Elk shifted to the south and stood exactly above the earthly figure of the Elk - the geoglyph.
There is one oddity in this reconstruction: the angular dimensions of the geoglyph for an observer on the Zyuratkul ridge are 7°, and the angular dimensions of the constellation are about 30°. In order for the sizes of the figures to coincide, you need to go down from the ridge and approach the feet of the earthly Elk at a distance of 365 meters. At the same time, the gap between the figures will also decrease - the entire water area of Lake Zyuratkul will no longer be visible between them.
By the way, this water area also resembles the figure of an elk. Its angular dimensions are about 60°. The head of this aquatic moose with large antlers is directed towards the viewer on the Zyuratkul ridge, and its legs are extended to the north. It "goes" from southeast to northwest. From the heavenly Elk to the earthly Elk. But there was another elk - the reflection of a starry beast on the smooth surface of the evening lake. So there were four Elks on Zyuratkul, not two. However, this amazing picture can be seen accurately and in detail only through direct observation on the ground.
The viewer, who finds himself in the right place at the right time and is initiated into the intricacies of cosmology, will experience strong aesthetic and spiritual experiences.
Now one can even think that the name of Lake Zyuratkul and the Zyuratkul ridge is somehow connected with the name of the celestial beast Elk and its earthly reflection - the geoglyph. It remains only to find out what language the inhabitants of these places spoke at the end of the Paleolithic. The name of the wonderful Aryan beast (undoubtedly an elk) Sharabha with eight legs comes from the Ural-Altai “*sarta”, in the Mari and Mansi languages it has an analogue - the taboo name for the elk - “sharp (shord)”. The horse of the Germanic Odin with eight legs, the son of Loki named Sleipnir (“Sliding One”), is an image of a completely different constellation, namely the Square of Pegasus.
Toponymists derive the Bashkir name Zyuratkul from Zyurak-kul and from Yurak-kul, that is, “Heart is a lake.” However, the Turks have been living in the Urals quite recently - they were not yet present in the Mesolithic and Neolithic. But there were Ugrians. If you listen closely, you can hear the ancient name of elk in “Zyurat-kul” and “Satka”.
But now we can calmly wait for the results of full-scale archaeological excavations. And now let only rare clever people and unique talents deny the very fact of the existence of the geoglyph, its observatory purpose, and the absolute (still preliminary, and therefore cautious) dating - 8 - 10 millennium BC.

The gigantic and probably the most ancient geoglyph on the planet, the so-called “Elk of Zyuratkul”, which scientists give an age of 6 thousand years, could have been built by children or people of very short stature.

The Siberian Times newspaper writes about this, citing the words of experts who excavated stone tools in the area near the geoglyph, adapted to fit a small palm.

The “Elk” geoglyph (218 meters in length, 278 meters diagonally) was discovered in 2011 in the Ural Mountains, near Lake Zyuratkul, while studying satellite images and is older than such famous geoglyphs as the Nazca Lines, the White Horse from Uffington or the Giant from Dorset.

According to experts, the Elk geoglyph was built by an obscure tribe in which the adults were helped by children. Archaeological excavations were carried out in the area near the geoglyph and many stone tools were found. Some of them were adapted to fit a small palm, apparently a child's.

WITH tanistav Grigoriev, senior researcher at the South Ural branch of the Institute of History and Archeology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, says that the length of the tools found varied from 17 to 2 centimeters, and their weight reached 3 kg and that the children were probably not slaves, but worked to help adults, " inspired by a common idea."

A total of 155 tools were found, mostly digging tools and fragments of stones, but it is still not clear which people built the Elk and for what purposes.

Theory: This elk represents the constellation Elk. There is no such constellation on modern star maps - it has long been lost by southern civilizations. But in the northern sky you can find the figure of a moose. Ancient Elk is now represented by six constellations at once: Perseus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Triangulum, Aries and Pisces. Lost Elk is a huge constellation. Now it is clearly visible in the southern winter sky. It is visible this winter, it will be visible next winter and many more winters in a row - precession is a slow thing - 1° in 72 years.