Parrotopia

By

George J. Haas

THE PARROT

On March 7, 2002 an independent researcher named Wil Faust presented an odd formation captured in MOC image M1402185 1to the attention of the Anomaly Hunters discussion board. Faust noted an inverted formation, which lies on an S-facing slop along the Northwest rim of the huge Argyre Basin,2 assumed the shape of a gigantic open-winged parrot (Figure 1). The animated contours of the formation are quite stunning. Notice the shape of the main hillock that forms the belly of the parrots body and head. Feather shafts are visible at the base of the unfurled wing that extends into a matrix of primary flight feathers. A compartmentalized infrastructure forms the main wing feature that stretches northward. The areas adjoining the winged-shaped structure are essentially level, while the Northern region beyond the flat plane progressively leads to higher terrain. Although portions of the wing feature appear to be partially buried by wind-driven material the overall formation is quite intact. The head, body and wing appear proportional and are readily visible without the aid of any enhancement. The area that forms the tail feathers extends beyond the available data and only suggests such a feature

Figure 1
The Parrotopia Complex (inverted from original orientation)
Note the profile of a full-bodied parrot at the bottom portion of this crop and
the wing feature that extends into a grid-like formation of a city complex.

Focusing now on the head, an eye, beak, jaw and tongue are visible (Figure 2). There is even evidence of a “cere”(nostril) feature located at the top portion of the beak. The head extends from the beak down to a hood-line at the base of the neck. Within the head, there is an odd unknown artifact that penetrates the beak area of the parrot's head (labeled "G" in Figure 3). This artifact may represent some kind of projectile, possibly a "dart." Notice the arrow shape of the shaft that penetrates the beak and the decorative feather-like feature at the opposite end.

Figure 2
The Parrot's Head (Detail).
Note the dart that penetrates the beak.

The following analytical drawing (Figure 2) identifies a set of 18 points of confirmation that Veterinarian Amelia Joy Cole believes provides overwhelming evidence that the Martian pictograph not only represents a parrot, but it's sculptured features are anatomically correct.3

Figure 3
Parrot Analytical Drawing with letter notations: A-S.

A. The Belly. B. The Body. C. Feather Shafts. D. The Eye. E. Primary Flight Feathers.
F. Cere (the top potion of the beak). G. Unknown artifact, possibly a feather. H. Beak.
I. Tongue. J. Jaw. K. Head. L Hood Line (neck). M. Claw. N. Foot and Toes.
O. Leg - Metatarsus. P. Leg - Tarsus Joint. Q. Leg - Tibia. R&S. Tail Feathers.

The placement of the dart in the beak is most interesting. Its presents is reminiscent of a dart that was used by one of the Hero Twins, mentioned in the Maya Popol Vuh, that shoots at a celestial bird known as Seven Macaw. A scene from this Maya Creation story is painted on a vessel that depicts one of the Hero Twins (Hun Ajaw) shooting Seven Macaw with his blowgun (Figure 4).

Figure 4
Hero Twin, Shooting Seven Macaw with blowgun .
Drawing by Linda Schele.

According to the story, one of the Hero Twins hits the celestial bird in the beak with a dart, while the bird sits high in the World Tree. The result of the blow breaks the birds jaw and also knocks out one of his “shinny teeth,” sending Seven Macaw falling down to the Earth (Figure 5). With this story fresh in our in mind, these odd feather-like projections found in and around the beak of the Martian parrot may actually represent these "darts." Notice the jagged edge of the parrot’s upper beak in Figure 3. The damage to the beak may not be the result of weathering and erosion, but may be an intentional element of its design depicting the result of the darts impact.

Figure 5
Seven Macaw and the Hero Twins (Izapa Stela 2)
Drawing by F. Kent Reilly, III)

The following image is a drawing of a hammered copper bird produced by the Hopewell Indians form Ohio (Figure 5). It is presented here as a comparison image for the parrot geoglyph found at the edge of the Argyre Basin on Mars. Notice the shape of the head and the beak, the round belly and the stylized tail feathers and clawed foot. Also notice the overall open profiled posture of the wing, which is very reminiscent of the design expressed within the parrot geoglyph on Mars.

Figure 6
Bird - hammered copper (Hopewell Indians 400 BC to 400 AD)

Etched on a hillside in the Peruvian Andes is a giant pictograph of a parrot (Figure 7). Notice the simple contours of the birds shape as opposed to the exquisite detail observed in the Martian parrot (Figure 1). Although the awkward shape of the Peruvian pictograph is not anatomically correct, the overwhelming conscientious is that it represents a parrot. If this simple hillside rendering is accepted as an intentional work of Peruvian art by passing observers, then it could be concluded that one would be hard pressed to dismiss the richly detailed physical features of the Martian parrot as mire chance.

Figure 7
Parrot on a Hill (Nazca)
(Image source: http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/barada/267/Siriusly/ancient-nazca.html)

Beyond the realm of a simple rendering of a pictographic parrot, could the Parrotopia complex on Mars be the remains of a bustling metropolis that was constructed in the shape of a parrot? If so, the parrot formation could be seen as a “marker” alerting aerial passer-bys of the specific politic and cultural affiliation of it inhabitants. This idea may not be as far fetched as one might think. At the time of the Spanish Conquest, the Inca capital city of Cuzco was found to be in the anthropomorphic shape of a gigantic puma (Figure 6). Just as the body of the Martian parrot conforms to its surrounding terrain, while its wing extends into a complex of structural foundations, the head of the puma at Cuzco also follows the contours of the available topography, while the foundations of the city suggest its crouching body.

Figure 8

Puma Shaped City at Cuzco
Note the highlighted shape of the puma.
Drawing by George J. Haas.
(Image source: Monuments of the Incas, Hemming and Ranney, p.43)

Although many large-scale pictographic structures such as this puma litter the surrounding landscape of Cuzco, none are as “picture perfect” as the Martian parrot found by Wil Faust. Its shape and form is so obvious and recognizable that its presence goes far beyond being a simple “trick of light and shadow” that it expands into the realm of being an ecstatic work of art. Amazingly, whatever esoteric function the construction of this Martian complex served, one thing is clear, this artistic landform has been systematically designed and altered to conform to the anatomical proportions of a terrestrial parrot.

Footnotes:

1. M1402185 - Resolution 3.41 meters. Lat: -48.07°. Long: 55.30°. Orbit: 5126: http://www.msss.com/moc_gallery/m13_m18/images/M14/M1402185.html .

2. Because of its location, Faust believes the pictographic complex was an ancient port City at some distant time in the planets history, and offers current data to support his preliminary conclusion. For the full story go to the Anomaly Hunters Roundtable: Group Study of Parrotopia (led By Wil Faust) March 7, 2002:
http://www.anomalyhunters.com/parrotopia/parrotopiapage1.shtm.

3. Doctor A.J. Cole is a practicing Veterinarian that lives and works in New Jersey.