Ancient Mystery Unearthed: Half-Man, Half-Mantis Rock Carving Challenges History in Iran
The mysterious stone carving did offer a few clues. For one, researchers determined that the insect carving was indeed a mantis given the petroglyph figure’s long praying limbs, triangular head, and oversized eyes.
There are more than 2,000 species of mantis in the world. These bugs prey on small insects and can be found in Iran among other places. The prehistoric carvers would have likely come upon a native species of mantis at some point in the region.
The carving figure’s middle limbs were created in strange loops or circles comparable to a distinct petroglyph found around the world known as “Squatter Man” which depicts a humanoid flanked by similar circles. The newly discovered rock carving, the scientists concluded, seemed to be some sort of half-human half-mantis creature.
Thus, the team of researchers dubbed the petroglyph as “Squatter Mantis Man” in their study published in the Journal of Orthoptera Research.
The prehistoric carving itself measures roughly five inches tall and, interestingly enough, the specific species of mantis depicted has also been determined. Entomologists on the team found that the extension on the head of the carving was distinct to a particular genus of mantids in the region known as Empusa.
During the time of our cave-dwelling human ancestors, petroglyphs or engraved rock art were used as a means of communication, oftentimes to express feelings and opinions. As the study’s authors wrote, the mysterious petroglyph suggests “that in prehistory, almost as today, praying mantids were animals of mysticism and appreciation.”
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