Scientists have discovered stone structures on the Karst plateau on the border of Slovenia and Italy that were likely built no more than 3,600 years ago. These are huge structures with long, low walls leading to a pit. Researchers suggest they are used as large-scale traps for herds of wild animals, such as red deer, write Phys.org. Scientific article published above Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Scientists from the University of Ljubljana and the Slovenian Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage performed aerial photography using laser scanning over an area of about 870 square kilometers and discovered four previously unknown megastructures.
Their length varies from 530 meters to more than 3.5 kilometers. The shape and purpose are reminiscent of the “desert kites” known in the Middle East and North Africa.
“These structures reveal important aspects of prehistoric life: the organization of collective labor outside the domestic space, the transformation of landscape into infrastructure, and the connection between architectural design and animal behavior,” the paper's authors note.
This is evidence of the high skill of the builders and their extensive knowledge of the area and the seasonal migrations of the game. The combination of landscape planning and constructive thoughtfulness suggests a complex social organization and long hunting tradition in the area.
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