At first sight, these large circles discovered in a field near OÅ‚awa, a town in south-western Poland look like a crop circle. However, what we are seeing are actually contours of a giant monumental structure. Archaeologists estimate our ancestors erected the structure between 4900-4600 B.C.
What is even more intriguing, is that researchers say this puzzling structure could be part of a giant 7,000-year-old astronomical calendar or perhaps an ancient solar observatory. The outlines are so clear that archaeologists have been able to reconstruct the monument without any digging tools. The structure consists of a double ditch system. Inside the circular structure there are marks of a building that can be reached through four entrances.
According to Dr. Mirosław Furmanek from the Institute of Archeology, University of Wrocław who is investigating this mysterious structure said this is the work of an unknown Stone-Age community. The structure is made of wood and it was built with simple tools.
It’s a unique ancient construction and scientists have one discovered three similar structures in Poland so far. One is in Biskupin, and the other have been unearthed in Bodzów near Głogów and Chojna in the vicinity of Szczecin.
The purpose of the giant circular wood structure in OÅ‚awa is unknown. It could have been used as a ceremonial center, a temple or an astronomical observatory. Dr. Furmanek thinks it most likely an important, sacred meeting place where carious rituals and ceremonies were held. Stone Age communities valued certain landscapes more.
It was common to select a special place where meetings were regularly held in order to strengthen a group’s identity and integration. The goal of such meetings, ceremonies and rituals was to transfer values, behavior patters and preserve social structure in the community.
However, Dr. Furmanek says it cannot be ruled out that the entrances to this complex simultaneously performed functions related to astronomical observations. This would mean that the entire complex was a giant ancient astronomical calendar used by Stone Age people to study celestial objects.
Our ancestors were fascinated with the night sky. They watched the movements of celestial bodies, observed solar and moon eclipses and created calendars based on their astronomical observations. All around the world, we come across traces that reveal people who lived thousands of years ago were in fact skilled ancient astronomers.
As Ancient Pages reported earlier, there is a somewhat similar structure in a small now long forgotten ancient village of Bezvodovka in Chernihiv region, nearby the city of Ichnia, Ukraine. Scientists who have investigated the mounds suggest they were used for astronomical observations.
No mounds have been found in the vicinity of the OÅ‚awa structure, but Polish scientists will now use non-invasive methods, including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to obtain additional information about the mysterious 7,000-year-old construction.