What is Steppe Geoglyphs?
The '''Steppe Geoglyphs''' are a number of [[Neolithic]] earth constructions in the [[Turgay Trough]] area of [[Turgai]] in northern [[Kazakhstan]]. There are at least 260 of these [[earthworks]].<ref name=Blumenthal>{{cite web |last=Blumenthal |first=Ralph |date=October 30, 2015 |title=NASA Adds to Evidence of Mysterious Ancient Earthworks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/03/science/nasa-adds-to-evidence-of-mysterious-ancient-earthworks.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Epstein |first=Adam |date=October 31, 2015 |title=Even NASA is perplexed by these otherworldly 8,000-year-old formations in Kazakhstan |url=http://qz.com/537812/even-nasa-is-perplexed-by-these-otherworldly-8000-year-old-formations-in-kazakhstan/ |access-date=November 1, 2015 |quote=Since then, Dey has found about 260 of the land designs—which resemble crop circles, but are much stranger.}}</ref> Many or all of them are smaller earthworks (mounds, trenches and ramparts) arranged with each other to make geometric and other shapes (composite figures). These shapes are squares, rings and three others.<ref name=Blumenthal /> The composite figures range from slightly under 90 m in length to over 400 m in diameter.<ref> http://www.pitt.edu/~super1/lecture/lec53991/htm{{dead link|date=November 2015}}</ref> Besides being made of earth dug out and piled up, some of the geoglyphs are made by placing stones next to each other. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3297282/Mystery-ancient-patterns-Kazakhstan-Space-images-reveal-remarkable-structures-including-cross-swastika.html|title=Kazakhstan images reveal ‘remarkable’ structures including a cross and a swastika - Daily Mail Online|work=Mail Online|access-date=9 November 2015}}</ref> Some of the large shapes have been given names, including Bestamskoe Ring, Ushtogaysky (''or'' Ushtogay) Square, Turgay triradial swastika, Large cross Ashtasti, Ekedyn cross, Ashutasti ring, Kyzyloba line, Koga cross, and Shili