Apart from a unique historical monument of the Middle Bronze Age, Arkaim is known as one of the strongest “anomaly zones” in Russia. But when, why and by whom was this prehistoric site of unusual circles constructed?
Arkaim (Аркаим in Russian) is located north of the Russian borders with Kazakhstan, in the Southern Urals steppe. Several dates of construction have been proposed, however, the most dominant is the one suggesting the 17th century B.C.
It was in 1935 when a military aerial photography in Chelyabinsk, in the Southern Urals, revealed several unusual circles covering a region more than 640 km long. Back then, no one could explain how they were constructed, and as a result it was considered a mystery. Based on this first official sighting of Arkaim, during 1960s scientists identified a complex of 17 fortresses. At the same time a study on ancient peoples of the Eurasian steppe begun. In 1987, Arkaim was rediscovered under the guidance of archaeologist Gennadii Zdanovich, who was in charge of the excavation campaign.
