Xenoarchaeology II: Prehistory

Click here to read Part I

 

Before Skiamun

It has largely been accepted that the Skiamun were the very first species on the red planet to evolve sapience or at least develop what we can call civilization. A recent challenge has come to this consensus, thanks to seismological surveys on the Tharsis plateau. Beneath the foot of volcano Alba Mons, buried under hundreds of metres of later lava flows, was detected a colossal triangular structure. After excavation it turned out to resemble a pyramid, made of a still unidentified red stone. Due to heavy erosion and no additional artefacts, it is being debated if this is indeed an artificial structure or instead an oddly shaped volcanic tholus. Dating of the volcanic layers indicates that the “Crimson Pyramid” is approximately about 20 million years older than the beginning of the Usukanni Monumental Period, making it highly unlikely that it could have been built by the Skiamun, their predecessors or any of the other known sapient species. A recent dig found an odd erosional pattern inside a “shaft” leading into the pyramid, which at least one researcher has identified as possible artwork. If indeed interpreted as such (and not as pareidolia), the heavily defaced figure could be seen as depicting a sort of four-winged dragonfly creature with a long tail and large mandibular jaws. Vaguely similar creatures are seen in Skiamun mythological artwork, so it is possible that, if authentic, this was a later carving made by them.

 

Eolithic

Disregarding the aforementioned section, the earliest known archaeological stage of Martian prehistory is the so-called Eolithic, but rather than being a true age this is more a category of convenience. Dated to this stage are possible crude stone artefacts which cannot be ascribed to any specific species. The problem lying herein that this era of technology is so simple that it becomes indistinguishable from rocks, such as flint, which can knap into pointy shapes purely due to natural erosion. Great caution should therefore be taken when interpreting “eoliths” as products of intelligent forces. Indeed, due to a lack of definite evidence for intentional crafting, some authors argue that there was no such thing as an Eolithic and that the alleged tools found so far could all be simple geofacts.

Fig. 1: The Faustkeil of Luw, from Seilacher's notebook.

At least one artefact does raise some eyebrows, the Faustkeil of Luw (fig. 1), named after the crater formation it was found in eastern Iani Chaos. It is a broad, somewhat flattened, chipped flintstone, whose one half seems as if it could have been knapped in an intentional way. Based on form alone it could just be a natural geofact, but it is the circumstances of its discovery which make it intriguing, as it was found embedded inside the carapace of an Imperiotherium. As it is unlikely that the animal just happened to fall atop a naturally sharpened rock, this points towards the Faustkeil having been used by an intelligent force as a weapon. Who its wielder may have been is impossible to say. It could have been an early Skiamun, one of their undiscovered ancestors or something completely different. Unfortunately, the artefact has become lost since its discovery, only the notes and sketches of Andrews’ team remain.

 

Palaeolithic

The Old Stone Age of Mars begins with the first definitive fossils of the genus Psittacanthropus and tools that can be clearly assigned to them.

Fig. 2.

Among those tools are handaxes (fig. 2) and spear-tips, which show much more intricate craftsmanship and intentionality than any of the earlier eoliths. As can be expected, these were likely made to hunt, kill and disassemble animals. How exactly the earliest Psittacanthropus lived is still difficult to say, due to a lack of data. Some data indicates that around the Middle Palaeolithic fire may have been discovered, though the usage of fire on Mars is an immense kettle of worms, as it poses the question of how these beings were able to control fire without blowing themselves up, given the fact that, unlike Earth, Mars has in equal parts hydrogen and oxygen in its atmosphere. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain this discrepancy and we will return to it again later.

Fig. 3: Tracing of Delphause Hills rock-carvings. Clearly visible are a Skiamun attacking a large thecocerate with a spear. The creature on the right is likely a pedicambulate, but of unknown affinity, due to sporting what appear to be antlers, something not seen in any known species.

Apart from fire and tools, the Late Palaeolithic is marked by the invention of language, complex social bonds and art, which undoubtedly reflects advances in the mental capacity of the Skiamun. A famous find of the Andrews Expedition are rock carvings at Aram Dorsum, at a site nicknamed Delphaeus Hills.

Fig. 4: Megafauna represented Delphaeus rock carvings. What appears to be a late-surviving eborothere is attacked by a huge carnivorous tripod.

These are indispensable for understanding Skiamun origins, as they show the creators of the carvings living among and interacting with the local wildlife, most of which is now long extinct. Notably, some of the carvings show mysterious creatures (fig. 5) that are unknown from the fossil record, but may have been the basis for some of the later hieroglyphs. Notably, all of the Palaeolithic art found so far only depicts creatures that really existed and no beings that could be interpreted as gods or spirits. This makes it unlikely that these mystery beasts were invented.

Fig. 5: Two mysterious creatures from rock carvings. Left has been dubbed the "One-footed Snorkel Monster" and resembles no known organism on Mars, either living or extinct. It does, however, frequently appear in ancient art (often shown to be mobile, therefore discounting the idea that it is simply a shellubim) and may have even been the basis for the later "Sacred Spirit" hieroglyph. Either this was an animal frequently encountered by the Usukanni that went extinct without a trace or it was a purely mythological entity, perhaps a chimaera of multiple creatures. The creature on the right may represent an early Anak.

Neolithic

When exactly the Martian Neolithic began is unknown, though its origins may have lied in an aridification event hundreds of thousands of years ago, which likely led to an extinction of megafauna and forced the nomadic Skiamun to look for other food sources.

Fig. 6.

One of the earliest possible pieces of evidence for the beginnings of agriculture was found at the Syracuse cliffs of Sagan crater (back then a large lake) not far from the later city of Kalan. The object (fig. 6) is a petrified piece of wood into which were inserted the slicing teeth of some large pedicambulate. This was originally interpreted as a weapon, perhaps similar to the Mesoamerican macuahuitl, but this has recently been challenged. The abrasion pattern on the blades indicates that it was mainly used to cut vegetation, which makes it possible that this was actually an early scythe. If true, this could be the earliest known farming tool on Mars.

Fig. 7.

Lithic technology in general greatly advanced during this time, producing even more finely crafted flint knifes (fig. 7), whose form indicates that they were even equipped with wooden handles.

Fig. 8.

The first definite signs of a Neolithic come in the form of pottery, whose distinctive changes in craftsmanship can be used to split up the later Neolithic of Usukanni into distinct periods or stages. The first stage is the so-called Pre-Artistic (fig. 8), as its pottery consists of very simple vessels with no decorative elements. These clearly served a purely practical purpose as storage and transport vessels for grains, water and other goods.

Fig. 9.

 

 

 

Fig. 10.

This is followed by the Abstract Stage (fig. 9), where vases and vessels now begin to be decorated with stripes and abstract geometric forms. An important innovation during this time seems to have been the invention of the handle, undoubtedly a great aid for creatures that could not walk with two free hands. Also first appearing are cups with a distinct half-funnel (fig. 10), literal “Schnabeltassen”, which were likely adapted for the fact that Skiamun do not have lips and therefore need differently shaped vessels than we do to drink from.

Fig. 11

Fig. 12: Outline of the McRath megalithic structure.

This is then followed by the Pictoral Stage (fig. 11.), in which abstract images and patterns are replaced with clear art depicting animals and scenes from life along the river. Concurrent with the Pictoral Stage are the first archaeological signs of larger settlements. One of these is the Snorkie Shrine (fig. 12) on McRath Island, east of Gorduswil. It is a quite large megalithic mound, whose inside consisted of a circular chamber connected with the outside through a corridor. The shrine is named so after the figures which appear in relief on the distinctive t-stelae that held up the building’s roof (fig. 13). While the word shrine, given to it by its discoverers, indicates religious importance, there is no definitive proof that the building was actually used in such a fashion. It is equally possible that this could have been a communal home or maybe a food storage. In the latter case, the animal art may have served to ward off thieves.

Fig. 13: A t-stele found at McRath and other megalithic sites. The relief of the "Snorkel Monster" is a recurring motif.

The appearance of megalithic structures signals a change in simple village life. Rising populations increased both inequality and the need for social cohesion, administration, and the specialization of society into distinctive groups. Not everyone could be a farmer or herder anymore. Villages and tribes once held together by the mere bonds of family were now growing into towns whose elders were able to organize such large projects for a higher purpose. This development would ultimately lead into the last stage of prehistory, the Proto-Dynastic Era, where cities were now surrounded by large monuments, gods had found a home in temples and petty kings invented warfare and metal tools to fight for hegemony across the great river, ending the Stone Age in bloodshed. But writing was still absent. Once that last step would be made, that tool to communicate through time, life here required but one more ingredient. A great leader to unite the quarrelling tribes, to harness the power of the land, to build a legacy that would stand the test of time. A civilization.