A geoglyph is a large design or motif (generally greater than 4 meters) produced on the ground and typically formed by clastic rocks or similarly durable elements of the geography, such as stones, stone fragments, gravel, or earth. A positive geogplyph is formed by the arrangement and alignment of materials on the ground in a manner akin to petroforms, while a negative geoglyph is formed by removing patinated clasts to expose unpatinated ground in a manner akin to petroglyphs.
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The most famous geoglyphs are the Nazca Lines in Peru. Despite numerous hypothesis, it is due to lack of documentation not clear what the cultural significance of the geoglyphs for their creators was.[1] The 'Works of the Old Men' in Arabia, "stone-built structures that are far more numerous than (the) Nazca Lines, far more extensive in the area that they cover, and far older," [2] have been described as 'Geoglyphs' by Amelia Sparavigna, a physics professor at Politecnico di Torino in Italy [3]. The use of this term to describe these features is probably inaccurate, as recent research has shown that most were not constructed primarily as 'art' or 'motifs', but were rather built to serve a range of purposes including the site of burial and funerary customs, aiding in the trapping of migratory animals, and as cleared areas for camps, houses and animal enclosures [4]. Recently some geoglyphs have been discovered in the Amazon Rainforest, in Brazil, among the Megaliths in the Urals, which led to claims about unknown civilizations that may have inhabited the area in the past.[5] Other areas with geoglyphs include South Australia (Marree Man), Western Australia and parts of the Great Basin Desert in SW United States. Hill figures, turf mazes and the stone-lined labyrinths of Scandinavia, Iceland, Lappland and the former Soviet Union are types of geoglyph.
Not all geoglyphs are ancient. The Land Art movement created many new geoglyphs as well as other structures: perhaps the most famous example is Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson. Many towns and cites in the Western United States use hillside letters (also known as "Mountain Monograms") on the hills above their locations. Contemporary Australian sculptor Andrew Rogers has created geoglyphs around the world called "The Rhythms of Life". You Yangs National Park is the home of a geoglyph constructed by the Rogers in recognition of the indigenous people of the area. It depicts Bunjil, a mythical creature to the local Wautharong Aborigines.
In 2008/2009 Alfie Dennen created Britglyph, a locative art focused Geoglyph created through participants across the United Kingdom leaving rocks at highly specific locations and uploading media created at each location. When taken together and viewed on the main project website an image of a watch and chain inspired by John Harrison's marine chronometer H5 was created.[6]