Ancient megaliths carved from granite, depicting a griffin and a dragon, were found not far from Belokurikha, Altai Territory. Scientists estimated their age at 11-12 thousand years and suggested that the monuments were created by prehistoric people.
Unique megaliths on Mount Mokhnataya in the Altai Territory were discovered about 20 kilometers from the resort of Belokurikha back in 2013, but scientists have reported about the find only now, writes the Siberian Times.
Dragon and griffin
The dragon is carved into the rock weighing 120 tons. Archaeologists who have discovered granite monuments believe that they go back to ancient times. It is assumed that they were installed by prehistoric people. However, how they did it and why, scientists do not yet understand.
Experts suggest that the dragon is possibly the oldest image of this mythical creature in Russia. They believe that the megalith is not related to the Chinese style of depicting the dragon, but is a unique Siberian depiction. This object has the characteristics of crocodiles and dinosaurs. Experts emphasize that they could not form naturally.
“If we accept the fact that the dragon is an artificial object, then the stones composed of it were brought, processed and installed in a certain position,” said researcher Ruslan Pereselkov and added that the megalith consists of six parts, ranging in size from 1.3 to 2. 1 meter long.
The griffin is 5.9 meters long and over 2.5 meters high, has a prominent skull, heavy beak, a hollow-shaped eye and a long jagged ridge. Its neck is clearly visible, and the rest is possibly hidden underground. The sculpture faces east and is surrounded by other anthropological objects, including holes, probably of religious or cult significance.
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It resembles a mythical eagle-headed creature found in the Scythian culture of Siberia, which existed here between 2000 and 3000 years ago. However, scientists note, the Scythians did not create such monumental sculptures. In addition, the megaliths look much older. They can be equated in age with the oldest finds known to mankind.
Glacial period?
“The dragon and the griffin are unique in their size. The griffin is also unique in terms of its safety,”Pereselkov noted and added that no other dragon megalith had yet been found in Siberia, but scientists do not exclude that such discoveries are possible in the future.
Researchers believe the images may be somehow related to forced migration caused by the Ice Age. The complex of megaliths in Mokhnataya Mountain may date back to the end of the last ice age or earlier. This would mean that the megaliths were created between 11 and 12 thousand years ago.
But they may be much older. The exact age of the finds will be impossible until scientists figure out what culture created them.
“In my opinion, the dragon has no analogues, but it can be compared with the Scythian animal style. Perhaps the Scythians inherited an older system of symbols. The serrated crest of the vulture strongly resembles the Scythian symbols from the burials of the Pazyryk culture in Altai,”he said.