A Desert Enigma Revealed: I Discovered an Unknown Object on Google Earth

I found this strange circle in the desert on Google Earth. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. As I searched the area for clues to what it was, I found a second one! Stunned, I knew I had to hike in to this area and find out what these were.

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#googleearth #ancientdiscoveries #hiking #exploration #adventure #ancientarchitects

[IamwhoIam]

You make me smile.
I grew up playing in the deserts of Arizona, California and Nevada.
My dad was in road construction. So we lived in what was called trailer camps.
Early 50's until 1964
We stopped in Las Vegas.
I saw things like you find.
We would spend all day exploring the desert and hills around them.
My mom would pack us a sack lunch, a canteen of water and an emergency whistle around our neck on a string.
She would say go play. Be home when the sun hits the top of this mark.
Then say don't make me come look for you.
Plus we were not allowed to enter any caves.
Red Rock Canyon was my favorite place to go.
Now you can can't get back into the really awesome areas anymore.
It's a federal park now
So much fun.
I will be 70 in a couple months. Be safe. Have fun and thank God for technology and for you sharing what you find.

[rossmacintosh]

Based on some googling, the "E.E. Shafer 1896" graffiti is likely Elmer Elsworth Shafer 1863-1939. He was born a Methodist in Ohio and died in Benton, Iowa. He invented a product called 'Copperene', a liquid which was based on Copper Sulfate, and had it marketed out of Chicago. It would deposit copper onto any iron or steel to make it solderable. It was successful enough that he was able to buy a Franklin car in the early 1900's with the proceeds. He also owned and ran a threshing machine, and would travel around the county threshing the other farmers grain. He started the tradition of sending sons to medical school, with his son Lee. He married three times, and had children from all three marriages.

[karenedwards]

My husband(now 80) was brought up with 6 brothers and a career criminal father who was always hiding out from the law when he wasn’t in prison, in this area. He said they played in places like this as kids . Raised in the backseat of an old car and when lucky they’d have a small travel trailer but parents stayed in it while all the kids slept outside or in car. A very tough life he never could forget. His dad was brutal to all of them. He’s in an Alzheimer’s unit now and my one prayer is that all those memories are lost

[surrelljr]

Being Native American, I’m not offended by your visits there, some of my family is from the Great Basin. I would like to see them, I’m in my 60’s so if I went it would be few. And putting artifacts back is the way it should be, we have technology to record it nowadays. I’m fascinated! Get a look how the old ones lived, I’ve ran into sites in Wyoming and I never told anyone because I don’t want them disturbed and possibly robbed. (I might tell professional archeologists so that the knowledge won’t be lost. Keep up the great work!!! And please, safety first, wouldn’t want to hear you broke a leg and died of thirst.

[doryliggett]

Just want to thank you for these amazing desert views. Hiking with cameras, drones and going where I’d never be able to.

[howlingwind]

I don't know much about American history, I live in Australia, I think it was for sky burials because the big carrion birds would have easy access. And the structures wouldn't be seen from the ground so others couldn't rob the grave. Some of our first nation people use to build big platforms, don't know if they still do, and they probably utilised the high rocks in the Kimberly's too. I'm not as bendy or spritely as I use to be, and have mobility issues, so the activity you are enjoying I enjoy vicariously, thank you for the adventure! Cheers!

[patrickbuechel]

I did stuff like this for 47 years, , , I'm 74 now, , , I miss it. But great videos like this are astounding, , , thank you😮😊❤

[terryparke]

Temporary residences of the dead. The fact that they are constructed of low stone walls without a visible door makes me think the intention was to keep something in and people out, to act as a boundary between the living and the dead. They are constructed like nests. Could they have been used as a form of sky burial, like the Sioux practiced? Any remains not carried away by birds would have been removed by tribal members after a certain time had passed. The nest-like structure makes me think they were carefully constructed that way to be open to the elements, and are too delicate for defense, observation, occupation or storage. Using them for signaling seems like overkill. They don’t need two. And they are difficult to get to. That difficulty is intentional. No one but their builders would know they are there. I think their purpose is mostly sacred, a way station for the souls of the dead, and not meant for the living.

[driverjamescopeland]

Hunting camps were more than just vantage points. They were places to process meat afterward, and many were specifically made with difficult access to keep would-be predators at-bay. Many of the big hunts you saw depicted, were seasonal... and were often preceeded by many days of preparation (making arrows, etc.), followed by many days of processing/preserving meat, making tools from bone, twine from intestines, and tanning hides. Very little of the animal went to waste. The last thing you wanted were tens of coyotes stealing your hard work.

[rhesreeves]

I've seen 2 episodes and I'm getting two things. There's a trove of cool stuff we have never seen and you are good at finding it! I can't imagine anything bringing out the kid in me more than hiking to find caves, pottery, weapons and especially art. This rules!

[chuckzehnder]

Great job! I used to do what you are doing, but am now 83 so must search vicariously through you. Thanks so much!!!

[rjpoldfart]

I would normally skip videos like this one, but decided to watch. So glad I did. That was one of the coolest things I've watched in a long time. I live in North Carolina and have never been out west as far as Arizona. It seems like a magical place and I've added it to my bucket list now. Thanks for allowing others to go on this journey with you Desert Drifter!

[davidl.williams]

Thank you! I'm 90 now, so It's good to see someone doing what I used to do on a smaller scale. It brought back memories.

[cynthiachoate]

Watching you makes my legs weak. I don’t know how you can walk those ledges so fearlessly!

[willoughby]

Half of me was listening to you here in the present, and looking all around, the other half was imagining visiting the past so I could be there with whoever it was that had been there at the time it was used. Now, if only I could also add a portion of each half in order to project myself into the future and see what they all will make of these two places in a thousand years, well I'd be all set. Thanks for bring me along with you like you did. That's exactly what it felt like anyways. You sure are good at doing "thoughtful" when you create videos. That shows how considerate you are.
"Maine" says "hello" again.

[michellenorthrup]

I wish you would do a collab with Trek Planner like “I found something what is it? We’re almost there, should be right around this corner”. ….. and it’s Jeff. Lol. Love you guys, thanks for taking us with you and being respectful to these sites. I miss the desert so much! ❤

[marshalbass]

Dude your drone footage with the music was epic. Well done.

[ObamAmerican]

From what I can tell you've not revealed where these are located. Sincerely, THANK YOU. Many people who discover these ancient treasures don't treat them with respect.

[bobbyjonkey]

I'm 69 and I always loved walking and exploring, and Your enthusiasm makes watching You on these journeys make it all worth while besides the awesome finds.

[Evan-usfz]

Thank you for these videos, you are a a great presenter and explore. You wonder and enthusiasm and gentleness shine through. I live in England, and it is wonderful to see such things. Thank you again.