A Partially Buried 'Gear Mechanism' on Mars, or Just Another Rock?

Mars Exoarchaeology Report: #MIA048 "Serrated Mechanism"

Sep 22, 2022

**Fig. 48.1 Serrated Mechanism: Near View, approx. size 10-15 cm**

Here is another tantalizing example of a mysterious object on Mars, which in this case looks like a piece of ancient technology sticking out of the ground!

Could this strange, mechanical-looking oddity be evidence of intelligent beings who once lived on the Planet Mars? Or, is it just another mundane case of optical illusion caused by a mixture of geological randomness, and the human proclivity to seeing familiar shapes in nature, such as human faces in clouds, trees and rocks?

For researchers like myself, who in the past have all too often been fooled by tricks of light and shadow, and especially by objects on the Martian surface that are just a bit too far distant to be sure of what the true shape is, it is an all too rare a treat, indeed, to be able to observe an unusual object in quite some detail from a picture taken by the NASA rover cameras.

And this one I find intriguing.

*Fig. 48.2 Serrated Mechanism: Geological setting - less than 1 metre distant*

My first observation immediately notices what appears to be a flat smoothness from the shadows cast behind the object, and several triangular-shaped ‘teeth’ and perpendicular angles. Most importantly, the object stands out alone amongst chiefly pitted and shattered rock fragments that display no such characteristics.

**Fig. 48.3 Serrated Mechanism: Close-up**

So this small object - I estimate about 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) - certainly does not match the surrounding rocks and the geological setting in which it sits. We should expect that it is merely a random oddity, an accidental shard that nature has thrown up, which coupled with shadow play and obscuring stones, has simply created an illusion of something unusual. But this is the all important point from where we have to start in this pursuit of the possible. Where we have to attempt to show that there is at least a reasonable premise from which to begin to ask the big question: could this be a potential exoarchaeological artefact?

As with all potentially artificial objects, we begin with that first step - the observation that something about it seems different from the surrounding geology. We then hone in on what can be deduced from the detail of the object, to notice multiple examples of angles and symmetry, uniform thickness etc., none of which by themselves would indicate an artificial object, but which together might increase the chance that it is.

**Fig. 48.4 Serrated Mechanism: Geological setting from 2-3 metres distance NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS**

The next important question is to determine if other unusual objects exist in the vicinity, which would provide some corroboration that this location may have had some kind of civilization activity in the past. In this case, I was unable to locate anything of a similar nature to the object, or what was in any way unusual. So, it remains a sole odd object amongst a sea of similar-looking rocks and geology.

Yet again, though, what a shame the Curiosity rover did not drive over to investigate this anomalous piece of something. Vitally missing too for this, and most analyses, is the ability to view the object from another angle, which would have revealed crucial detail as to the true 3D shape of it.

Nevertheless, I am particularly intrigued by this object. My speculative analysis is founded upon figure 48.3, which offers my visual impression of some kind of gear mechanism partially buried in the ground. Overall, I would conclude that there is a moderate to fair possibility of this being an artefact, and I will be adding it to the Secret Mars Exoarchaeology Archive.

**Fig 48.5 Serrated Mechanism: Earth analogies**

Details

Mars Report Ref: MIA-048

Report date: May 2021

Research Status: Open - Possible artefact

Description: "Serrated Mechanism"

Approximate size: 10-15 cm

Mission: Curiosity Rover

Location: Gale Crater

Identified by: Unknown

Image date: Sol 958, Apr 2015

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Graphics/image editing: M. J. Craig

Image source: https://mars.nasa.gov/msl-raw-images/msss/00958/mcam/0958MR0042380000502304E01_DXXX.jpg

All images for Sol 958:

https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw-images/?order=sol+desc%2Cinstrument_sort+asc%2Csample_type_sort+asc%2C+date_taken+desc&per_page=50&page=0&mission=msl&begin_sol=958&end_sol=958

OBSERVATIONS

This object treads the fine line where the viewing angle, coupled with small stones laying in the foreground of the object, may be conspiring towards some 'eye-trickery'.

However, the image clarity is good, and the distinct angular features and smooth character of the object suggesting a flat surface, makes it clearly stand out when compared to the granular nature of the stones in its vicinity.

POTENTIAL FOR AN ARTIFICIAL OBJECT

1. Displays several serrated, angular, curved and parallel features (Fig 48.3) that together suggest a mechanism.
2. A hollow portion in the foreground is indicated by light reflecting off the surface (Fig 48.5, B).
3. Appears to consist of a similar thickness across its entire length, suggesting it is one connected object embedded in the ground.

4. There is no comparable object anywhere else in the image or nearby, suggesting that it may be a unique or uncommon object.

COMMON EXPLANATION

A thin fragment of rock or sediment with sharp and curved edges.