10 Facts About The Shigir Idol

The world's oldest statue, the Shigir idol is full of secrets. It is one of the most important and most mysterious findings in Europe. It's secrecy is practically out of this world, with archaeologists and researchers being able to find out very little about the mysterious writing that cover the surface of this wooden statue. Slowly but surely, German scientists are putting their efforts into carbon-dating this valuable piece of history and the entire archaeological community eagerly awaits their results.

Meanwhile here are some incredible facts about this mysterious wooden statue:

1. According to researchers, the Shigir Idol was made during the Mesolithic period, around 7,500 BCE but was only discovered in 1890 in Kirovgrad, Sverdlovsk region, in the Ural Mountains.


2. The Shigir Idol is thought to be the most ancient wooden sculpture in the world. According to researchers it is at least twice as old as the Egyptian Pyramids.


3. It has 2.8 metres in height but according to researchers it was originally 5.3 metres tall, as high as a two story house.


4. Almost 2 metres of the artefact went missing during Russian's 20th century political conflict, though Siberian archaeologist Vladimir Tolmachev drew images of all the pieces.


5. The messages carved into the ornament  remain a complete mystery to modern man, with little progress being made towards the deciphering of the codes, according to experts.


6. According to the research team the straight lines could denote land, or horizon - the boundary between earth and sky, water and sky, or the borderline between the worlds.


7. The marks could have multiple meanings for the ancient statue-makers who gave the idol seven faces.


8. One of the faces of the Shigir idol i actually three-dimensional


9. The Shigir Idol is carved from larch.


10. At present, the Shigir Idol is located at the Yekaterinburg History Museum

 

 

---

Image Credit: V. Tolmachev, Ura.ru / Ekaterina Osinteva - The Siberian Times