Interesting spots in Algeria

Interesting spot.kml (1.64 KB)Interesting spot 2.kml (1.74 KB)

Does anyone know anything about these?  The first one I found in a post here that I can no longer find, and the second one is close by it.  I have found multiple others just like these two throughout the region, and it's interesting that they all seem to point E-SE, which I believe is the direction of the sunrise on winter solstice?  I've looked for any info about them, but haven't found anything.

Hi and welcome!

Rather interesting stone features you have spotted!

After an unsuccessful image search my first step was to go back to KenGrok's neolithic Arabia and Eastern Africa collection, but in that collection I could find nothing like these.

I remembered these shapes and was surprised I have not found them there, so quickly I had to realize that Ken have also had an other collection:

Neolithic Monuments of the Sahara and his answer was there:

These are "Burial mounds with entryway". (64 locations in Ken's collection)

...In mountainous areas of southern Algeria you'll find mounds surrounded by a ring and enclosed acentrically by an elliptical ring through which runs what appears to be a walkway leading to the mound. Note that this entryway leads from the east, though this is a general statement and the bearing is never exact. Most of these monuments are around 25 m wide, some are over 50 m....

Since I have marked some other similar objects and yep, in all cases the "entryway" points to E (E-SE or E-NE), for example one at >>24° 4'25.50"N, 5°40'32.39"E<< points the exact East direction. 

You might have met these in the 'Best of oGEC' subforum as Hill (Forum Moderator) has done two postings to recall Ken's great works. One for the Sahara- and one for the Arabia/EastAfrica collection. 

Thans for posting, have made me to do some Africa subfolder update with my Mounds Collection! (;

Best and see you!

g

Great find, jennierachelle, and excellent detective work, syzygy! I did not know of Ken's Sahara collection.