A YouTuber recorded himself travelling out into the desert after spotting an 'ancient symbol' on Google Earth and seeing what he could find there.
While scouting out places in the American southwest for hiking on Google Earth, YouTuber Desert Drifter - whose real name is Andrew - explained that he'd stumbled across a formation of rocks which immediately piqued his interest.
After locating the rocks on a remote plateau, Andrew noticed they appeared to 'point' him in a distant direction.
"So I trusted my gut and followed [it]," he explained, adding that he was subsequently led on a 'trail of clues' across the desert.
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Upon exploring the local area, Andrew noted the formation resembled a 'compass' before assembling his drone to get an arial view of the symbol.
"One of my initial thoughts is that in some ways it reminds me of the medicine wheel," he said, referencing the cultural landmark in Wyoming.
"It's sometimes called the sacred hoop and there's a lot of symbolic and sacred meaning to it for some native people."
Unable to determine a date of construction for the symbol, Andrew decided to go in the westward direction it was pointing too after remembering seeing nearby petroglyphs on the map.
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After exploring the area further and pondering whether or not the whole thing was a 'coincidence or connection', Andrew discovered various petroglyphs etched into the rocks and winding underground caves.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of Andrew's excursion was discovering the rock art formations aligned with the original symbol he'd discovered earlier in the day.
"When I'd stood on top [near the symbol] hours ago and first had this idea I thought it was a bit far-fetched," the YouTuber noted.
"I thought 'what were the odds that I'd be able to locate three different rock art panels many miles apart', essentially in a straight line that all seem to radiate out from a mysterious symbol on top of a mountain.
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"In reflection, this probably shouldn't come as a surprise," he added. "For the tribes who have called this place home for generations, the interconnectedness of the land the people and the animals was and is a core belief. I believe that's what I found on this trip."
Although Andrew wasn't able to fully determine the origin or date of the petroglyphs or rock formations he discovered, the video left viewers with a newfound appreciation for their natural surroundings.
"This should be protected for future generations and not found by people who might want to remove and sell the carvings for profit. I value the calm respect in the narrator’s voice. Thank you," one person wrote, while a second added: "Maybe we should all just go outside outside more often."
Topics: Environment, Travel, YouTube, Google, Google Earth
Brenna Cooper