FfFfFfFF 58,413 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 A unique rock carving found in the Teymareh rock art site (Khomein county) in Central Iran with six limbs has been described as part man, part mantis. Rock carvings, or petroglyphs, of invertebrate animals are rare, so entomologists teamed up with archaeologists to try and identify the motif. They compared the carving with others around the world and with the local six-legged creatures which its prehistoric artists could have encountered. The six limbs suggest an insect, while the triangular head with big eyes and the grasping forearms are unmistakably those of a praying mantid, a predatory insect that hunts and captures prey like flies, bees and even small birds. An extension on its head even helps narrow the identification to a particular genus of mantids in this region: Empusa. It is presently impossible to tell exactly how old the petroglyphs are, because sanctions on Iran prohibit the use of radioactive materials needed for radiocarbon dating. However, experts Jan Brouwer and Gus van Veen examined the Teymareh site and estimated the carvings were made 40,000-4,000 years ago. According to the researchers, the Mantis Man's middle limbs that end in circles are reminiscent of another archaeology wonder: the "Squatter Man." The Squatter Man is another petroglyph figure that has been found in various parts of the world such as in Arizona, New Mexico, Armenia, Spain, Italy, Venezuela, and United Arab Emirates. https://www.ibtimes.com/prehistoric-mantis-man-petroglyph-discovered-iran-2941840 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200316090338.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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