The Great Shigir Idol_part 3

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The Great Shigir Idol, unearthed during a gold mining operation in the Shigirpeat bog in 1890, is the oldest known monumental wooden sculpture ever discovered. In 2014, Russian and German archaeologists and scientists joined forces to conduct an in-depth study of this ancient idol. Initially measuring 5.3 meters tall, only 3.4 meters of the original sculpture remain intact today. A closer examination revealed that eight distinct personages were intricately carved onto the Great Shigir Idol's surface. Experts established that the idol was crafted from a freshly cut tree trunk using polished stone adzes and chisels. Initially positioned vertically on a stone foundation, the sculpture eventually toppled into the lake and sank in its shallow waters during peat formation, with some ancient cracks still preserved today. Dating back to around 9,600-9,000 years ago, as confirmed by AMS results and other available data, the Great Shigir Idol's age corresponds to the beginning of the Mesolithic era.