African Stonehenge? | National Geographic

weighing as much as a ton each these

weighing as much as a ton each these slabs are all that’s left of an ancient

slabs are all that’s left of an ancient

slabs are all that’s left of an ancient people arranged in circles the openings

people arranged in circles the openings

people arranged in circles the openings face east these are the megawatts of sin

face east these are the megawatts of sin

face east these are the megawatts of sin Gaia

Gaia

Gaia massive stones in the sands of Senegal

massive stones in the sands of Senegal

massive stones in the sands of Senegal moved here by hand by a mysterious

moved here by hand by a mysterious

moved here by hand by a mysterious people

people

people this man is determined to dig up some

this man is determined to dig up some

this man is determined to dig up some answers

answers

answers anthropologist Augustine Hall leads a

anthropologist Augustine Hall leads a

anthropologist Augustine Hall leads a team of more than two dozen students

team of more than two dozen students

team of more than two dozen students from the University of Michigan to help

from the University of Michigan to help

from the University of Michigan to help solve the riddle of the stones they’ve

solve the riddle of the stones they’ve

solve the riddle of the stones they’ve got their work cut out for them there

got their work cut out for them there

got their work cut out for them there are about 2,000 sites including circles

are about 2,000 sites including circles

are about 2,000 sites including circles and other markers spread over thousands

and other markers spread over thousands

and other markers spread over thousands of square miles all of them standing

of square miles all of them standing

of square miles all of them standing guard over human bones and there are

guard over human bones and there are

guard over human bones and there are clues the way these bones were buried

clues the way these bones were buried

clues the way these bones were buried was highly unusual Augustine’s team of

was highly unusual Augustine’s team of

was highly unusual Augustine’s team of detectives begin here circle number 27

detectives begin here circle number 27

detectives begin here circle number 27 unlike all the rest this one’s a circle

unlike all the rest this one’s a circle

unlike all the rest this one’s a circle within a circle Augustine believes this

within a circle Augustine believes this

within a circle Augustine believes this ancient people didn’t bury their dead

ancient people didn’t bury their dead

ancient people didn’t bury their dead all at once but over a period of time

all at once but over a period of time

all at once but over a period of time they would put the body in a shallow

they would put the body in a shallow

they would put the body in a shallow grave and wait for the flesh to decay

grave and wait for the flesh to decay

grave and wait for the flesh to decay then they would choose specific bones to

then they would choose specific bones to

then they would choose specific bones to bury yet another ceremony a second step

bury yet another ceremony a second step

bury yet another ceremony a second step involve in the process of selecting of a

involve in the process of selecting of a

involve in the process of selecting of a body part which has to be now carried

body part which has to be now carried

body part which has to be now carried maybe in a procession to the new burrow

maybe in a procession to the new burrow

maybe in a procession to the new burrow ground and then buried in environment

ground and then buried in environment

ground and then buried in environment the students are finding proof that this

the students are finding proof that this

the students are finding proof that this theory just might be true so far they’re

theory just might be true so far they’re

theory just might be true so far they’re not finding whole skeletons only certain

not finding whole skeletons only certain

not finding whole skeletons only certain parts mostly skulls

parts mostly skulls

parts mostly skulls if there were two crania located here

if there were two crania located here

if there were two crania located here and then one here and originally we

and then one here and originally we

and then one here and originally we thought that it was a primary barrier

thought that it was a primary barrier

thought that it was a primary barrier I’m going to full body but after we

I’m going to full body but after we

I’m going to full body but after we exposed everything instead of removing

exposed everything instead of removing

exposed everything instead of removing we realized that it followed the same

we realized that it followed the same

we realized that it followed the same patterns as our other discoveries the

patterns as our other discoveries the

patterns as our other discoveries the Skull and Bones fills the inner circle

Skull and Bones fills the inner circle

Skull and Bones fills the inner circle but the outer circle contains a

but the outer circle contains a

but the outer circle contains a different pattern ceramic pots on top of

different pattern ceramic pots on top of

different pattern ceramic pots on top of Jawbone’s

Jawbone’s

Jawbone’s the pots may have held offerings for the

the pots may have held offerings for the

the pots may have held offerings for the afterlife this explanation of multiple

afterlife this explanation of multiple

afterlife this explanation of multiple burials for the dead goes against what

burials for the dead goes against what

burials for the dead goes against what many people believe happened here there

many people believe happened here there

many people believe happened here there will be some controversy and IV&V see

will be some controversy and IV&V see

will be some controversy and IV&V see how science progresses for now Augustine

how science progresses for now Augustine

how science progresses for now Augustine and his detectives will continue to pry

and his detectives will continue to pry

and his detectives will continue to pry open these doorways to the dead for the

open these doorways to the dead for the

open these doorways to the dead for the dead have taken the answers with them