Another intriguing geoglyph within the same combination as the Owl ( News Release 5 ) : a human head appearing to be with beard and moustache, wearing 'bee-hive' style headwear and with hand placed across the chest seemingly holding an object. The lower part of the bust carries character-like markings. A 'Vee horizontal' within a (part) circle is imprinted on the right shoulder.

 

This assumed' additive' form geoglyph has some intriguing features. The 'pointed' hat is not typically indigenous but very like the helmets worn, for example, by Phoenician Sea - Farers. The hand "over the heart" posture suggests the geoglyph may represent a sarcophagus, commemorate successful conquest, expedition or voyage.

 

The characters are typical of regional variations of a Phoenician based alphabet used coincidentally by pre-columbian Oceanic Traders. Transliteration may identify a name, title or origin of the person depicted, or give a date. Perhaps the characters are an inscription - just for example, 'X' crossed the oceans from 'Y'. One very interesting point; the 'Vee horizontal' in a circle is identical to a motif carved on the prow of a Carthaginian trading vessel (Photo: Museo Arqueologico, Madrid) but the meaning of the characters must remain obscure simply until we know the language spoken.

 

Although' additive' is now the accepted norm for the earliest method of geoglyph construction and dates circa 800BC (Reindel private communication); this does not infer the two geoglyphs date from this period because although perhaps known, it may not have been possible to use 'subtractive' construction, circa 4OOBC. due to the hard granite surface of the mountain plateau.

FIGURE 1
The Owl geoglyph, part of the same geoglyph group as the Bust in Figure 2.

 

 

FIGURE 2
The Bust perhaps representing a sarcophagus, a commemorative plaque of a voyage, expedition or conquest. Who knows? Transliteration of the mysterious characters may eventually gives us vital clues.

 

 

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