Mysterious Petroglyphs in the Ural Mountains

There exists an archaeological mystery on the borders of Europe: thousands of mysterious rock carvings. Numerous ancient cultures have passed through this region, and each left behind subtle clues of their existence

The Ural Mountains still hide many unexplained mysteries to this day

 (Credit: dibattista, CC BY-SA 2.0)

The southern Ural region is home to a collection of mysterious petroglyphs that are carved into the rock walls, spanning over 800 kilometers, and run along rivers such as Tagil, Neva, Rezh, Yurozan, and other nearby areas. According to archaeologists, these intricate carvings were created between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago, but we have no idea by whom.

Exploring the Origin and Meaning of Prehistoric Rock Art in the Ural Mountains

Generations have been fascinated by these ancient artworks throughout history. In 1699, Tsar Peter I of Russia commissioned Yakov Losev, a scribe, to create exact copies of these petroglyphs, so that they would not be lost to future generations. Their age is not the only thing that distinguishes them, but also the meanings attached to certain symbols. It is remarkable how their shapes resemble modern scientific concepts in an uncanny way...

Although rock art is present worldwide, what sets Ural petroglyphs apart is a theory introduced by a Russian scientist named Avinsky. During a visit to these sites, Avinsky, who was a chemist by profession and not an archaeologist, saw something that was intriguing. 

Avinsky, a physicist who specializes in atomic, molecular, and optical physics, analyzed the petroglyphs and found a surprising correlation between the 5,000-year-old carvings and the formulas of certain advanced chemical substances. While the majority of petroglyphs depict various scenes of everyday life, such as hunting or fishing scenes. Avinsky believes that the unexplained spirals, geometric shapes, and zigzag formations are in fact complex chemical formulas that reveal the internal structure of different materials. Several thousand years before they were discovered by modern science... 

Could his claims be true?

Ancient Art or Rich Knowledge of Sciences?

In his opinion, the Ural petroglyphs show complex chemical formulas, such as chains and polygons used in organic chemistry. The assumption raises doubts about how ancient civilizations could have discovered such complex chemical structures.

 

Do these petroglyphs depict advanced chemical formulas?

Despite Avinsky's findings, recognized archeologists believe that these 5,000-year-old petroglyphs do not represent advanced scientific knowledge. Instead, they think that the carvings depict ancient art or religious beliefs from that era. In Avinsky's opinion, archaeologists struggled to explain these rock carvings because of their lack of chemistry knowledge.

Upon closer analysis, Avinsky allegedly found striking similarities between some symbols and extremely complex chemical formulas, such as chains and polygons used in organic chemistry. Polygons and extended hexagons with multiple lines were drawn by the ancients, which resembled modern chemical structures. In the carvings, the 'honeycomb' shapes that are visible resemble chemical structures found in graphite. Additionally, other petroglyphs depict bizarre symbols, including one that looks similar to the molecular structure of antibiotics. 

What truly lies behind these strange symbols?

To test his theory, Avinsky allegedly showed the Uraltean petroglyphs to a group of chemists from Moscow State University, and many agreed that the chemical formulas really resembled known chemical structures. Conventional science holds that ancient people thousands of years ago did not have knowledge of such things. Nonetheless, the petroglyphs are present and show resemblances to modern chemical structures. The truth behind this mystery remains elusive.

Does theese rock carvings originated in the Bronze Age?

The Ural region has a rich history of prehistoric civilizations, and several ancient cultures have left their mark in the area, that could contribute to the creation of mysterious petroglyphs. Among the notable civilizations that lived in prehistoric Ural are the Bronze Age cultures of Ananyino and Sintashka Petrovka, which existed in the Ural region and left behind artifacts and burial sites. While not much is known about their specific artistic practices, they are probably the originators of this mysterious rock art. 

The Ural Mountains still contain many visible remains of prehistoric civilizations to this day

They were associated with early Indo-Iranian people who later migrated south. Together with the slightly later Andronovo culture, they were known for their advanced metallurgy. Their pottery, tools, and metalwork have been discovered, along with ruins of ancient forts situated on hilltops or at the confluence of important rivers throughout the region. Many of these forts are located close to the sites where petroglyphs were found.

Possible Rational Explanations of the Enigmatic Petroglyphs

These strange theories invite us to explore the possibility that even at the dawn of civilization, our ancestors sought to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world in forms that reflect the language of science. 

Do these petroglyphs really suggest the knowledge of language by ancient people that could have conveyed not only the physical landscape but also the unseen forces and connections that govern the natural order? 

Avinsky's proposed resemblance between ancient Ural petroglyphs and complex chemical structures raises the intriguing possibility of a parallel evolution of knowledge. Could there have been an ancient civilization that had a profound understanding of chemistry that was contemporaneous with our modern understanding? 

While the Ural petroglyphs have captivated the imagination with their intricate patterns resembling the laws of chemistry, some argue that what has been interpreted as complex chemical formulas might, in fact, be a case of pareidolia. This phenomenon refers to the human tendency to perceive familiar shapes or patterns where none exist. In this context, the hexagons, polygons, zigzags, and other geometric forms on the carvings may be a product of human imagination rather than intentional depictions of advanced chemical formulas. They argue that the ancient people may have been more focused on creating symbolic art expressing their religious, non-scientific beliefs rather than encoding any scientific information. The so-called 'honeycomb' shapes, resembling graphite structures, or polygons resembling complex organic materials, may simply be coincidental resemblances that your brain perceives as something familiar in our modern age, but nothing more.

What do you think? Are these cases of pure pareidolia, and is Professor Avinsky's theory totally out of touch with reality, or do you believe there can be some truth in the idea that ancient people knew more about how nature works than we can admit? Share your opinion in the comment section.