4000-Yr-Old 'Amazing' Stone Objects Resembling Human Figures With Distinct Features Baffle Archaeologists

Nine mysterious stone-carved objects resembling human figures were discovered in an excavation in Orkney, Scotland, dating back some 4,000 years, stated Fox News. The remarkable discovery was made at the site of a planned electrical substation in Finstown, where experts found these intricately carved stones, each about 50 cm (20 in) in height. The first figure that was found, which the team affectionately called the "Finstown Fella," led the archaeologists to find eight more of the carved stones in the same archaeological structure, according to BBC.

"Finding nine of the anthropomorphic stones in one place is unprecedented," said Sean Bell, site director for ORCA Archaeology. These artifacts of ancient origin were scattered around a hearth within a complex structure that had three cists, two hearths, and a partial ring of holes that were filled with broken stones. The workmanship of these figures is amazing, demonstrating tremendous attention to detail. Each stone was worked carefully by a technique called pecking, where flakes of stone are chipped off with a pointed metal or stone tool. The round shape on the largest of the carved stones "definitely looks like a head, and in some lights, you think you can see features on it. But whether that's intentional or not we can't say," Bell elaborated, stated BBC.

What makes this find particularly important is the difference in their shape: whereas some figures are more rounded and almost pear-shaped, others have a decidedly flat profile. These differences have led the archaeologists to make some theories about their possible uses. "One theory, particularly with the flat ones, is they may be set in the ground, and then the neck is used for a tether. A sort of Neolithic tent peg," said Bell.

Colin Richards, of the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute, outlined how extraordinary it was to have found such representations: "It is very rare to find representations of people in prehistoric Orkney and when found, they are usually individual or in very small groups. If they are figurines, to find nine figures within one structure is very exciting," stated Live Science.

The archaeological team also discovered proof of ancient farming practices near the site. In a neighboring trench, they found very apparent marks that crisscrossed over one another, most likely from the use of ards Prehistoric plows, which suggested that these ancient people were indeed having positive agricultural interaction with the land around 2000 B.C. The purpose of these figures remains a matter of scholarly debate.

While their human-like features suggest they might have served ritualistic or religious functions, their practical applications cannot be dismissed. As Bell pointed out, "Even a flat one being used to tether something could still be part of that aspect of society," stated BBC. Since these figures were found in a secure archaeological setting, the researchers have a special chance to learn more about this unknown part of Orcadian pre-history.