The Anomalies Network : Martian Monolith Grave Yard

Martian Monolith Grave Yard

Dean R. Wetmore
IMRG Founding Member
Web Posted: 20 September 2000

There are times in life when we as individuals experience "peak moments" some people call these moments epiphanies. During this flash of insight, everything becomes crystal clear. When I fist saw the image highlighted below, it was an epiphany. It sent me down a path of discovery that forced me to question my beliefs about Mars, science and state sponsored research. The image first came to my attention on the bulletin board of the Enterprise Mission (the website of Richard C. Hoagland), and ran across a thread that was posted by a person using the handle TexasJames, entitled "what IS this?".

I downloaded the image and analyzed and agonized over it for hours. What possible geologic force could have created a field of large blocks all of similar size and orientation? I ran through idea after idea, yet none of the natural explanations quite fit. It was then that it occurred to me that much of the evidence one would expect to find (if one were looking for clues to/remnants of an advanced civilization) would be buried under thousands of years worth of debris. Much like the monuments in middle east (portions of Mars cut a fairly close parallel to areas of the middle east in terms of geomorphology etc.).

The initial image looked like a pyramid complex, but not quite... The shadows were all off. After looking at the non-map projected GIF, it started to become clear to me that these weren't pyramids; they were triangular, but on closer examination they looked like large monoliths (megaliths) that had been partially buried in the snow and sand just leaving the top corner exposed. And now for the evidence:

MOC Image M0102950 up sampled	MOC Image M0102950 up sampled and inverted

Notice that while the objects have a similar shape and size, the objects in the middle of the frame seem to be in a sandy knoll. This creates the perception that some are smaller than others, but those are at lower elevations, and are farther away from the camera.	This is the same image, it's been "inverted" what was dark now is light and visa versa. This helps to highlight the shadows, and identify what the shape of the objects might be. Interestingly enough, it also highlighted the shape of the "knoll."

Close Up	Geometric Relationships?

As you can see from this enlargement, the objects clearly have a rectilinear shape.	The layout of the monolith field, is very unique. It is filled with curves and straight lines, as you can see in this image.
Curved Patterns

It was suggested that a spiral pattern would fit eerily here, I certainly noticed the curvatures here right away. I will leave it to some of you to look for the patterns and relationships (I really don't want to have to brush up on Geometry and Trig right now...) At the bottom of this page you'll find an e-mail address, where you can send your insights. There are 47 discernable blocks in this image.

Actual Size from MSSS Grid at 10 Pixels	Inverted view of same

There seems to be a deliberate pattern to this field of stones. In addition to the geometric relationships and curves, the blocks tend to align along a grid. While the grid does not conform to the elevations of the hill, it is peculiar how the monoliths seem to line up at regular intervals. Each Pixel represents 12.88 Meters. The grid is set at 10 pixel intervals, therefore, each square is 128.80 meters (422.57 feet) to a side. The monoliths' size would measure out at hundreds of feet. An effort is currently underway to create an elevation map so the objects can be measured and rendered more precisely.

Line Drawing Representation

In the image above, I've flipped the GIF vertically, then rotated it 90 degrees counter clockwise to try and visually bring out the slope and the knoll. The knoll really isn't a knoll; it appears to be a section of the overall slope that the stones have held the material (sand or snow) at a higher angle of repose causing a bulge on the side of this slope. The cutaway view to highlights what I think we are seeing. The alignment, orientation, symmetry of size and shape is highly suggestive of artificiality. The more one works with the image, the angles, the lay out, the more that idea sets in.

These renders are by IMRG Core Member James Fitzhugh. Because we have do not yet have an accurate elevation map, these should be viewed as an artistic rendering rather than an actual 3 dimensional display. They do capture the essence of the Monoliths nonetheless.

Here is the original map projected JPEG that was discussed at the outset:

Original Map projected JPEG

This is the link to the MOC image at MSSS

http://www.msss.com/moc_gallery/ab1_m04/images/M0102950.html

Ancillary data for MOC narrow-angle image M01-02950

Acquisition parameters

     Image ID (picno): M01-02950
    Image start time: 1999-05-21T02:56:31.99 SCET
        Image  width:    256      pixels
        Image height:    256      pixels
Line integration time:      0.4821 millisec
  Pixel aspect ratio:      0.88
  Crosstrack summing:      8
   Downtrack summing:      8
    Compression type: MOC-NONE
           Gain mode:     6A (hexadecimal)
         Offset mode:     26 (decimal)

Derived values

Longitude of image center:    263.03°W
Latitude  of image center:     79.05°N
      Scaled pixel width:     12.88   meters
     Scaled image  width:      3.31   km
     Scaled image height:      2.91   km
    Solar longitude (Ls):    141.94°
   Local True Solar Time:     13.53   decimal hours
          Emission angle:      0.33°
         Incidence angle:     64.77°
             Phase angle:     64.71°
           North azimuth:    105.37°
             Sun azimuth:    310.07°
     Spacecraft altitude:    433.62   km
          Slant distance:    433.62   km

After searching through virtually every image at this longitude and latitude, there are several more examples of the feature in varying degrees of usefulness. Please follow the link to more monoliths to see more of them.

E-Mail Me

Curved Patterns

Actual Size from MSSS Grid at 10 Pixels

Inverted view of same

Line Drawing Representation

Here is the original map projected JPEG that was discussed at the outset:

Ancillary data for MOC narrow-angle image M01-02950