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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ย. 2024
- Someone left these marks in the sand. We had to find out who.
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Deep in the Sahara, far from any towns, roads, or other signs of life, is a row of markings in the sand. There are dozens of them stretching for miles in a straight line in central Algeria, each consisting of a central point surrounded by a circle of 12 nodes, like numbers on a clock. And when we started making this video, no one seemed to know what they were.
We first saw the circles back in September 2021, after finding a Reddit post on r/WhatIsThis with coordinates asking what the circles could be. With just two upvotes and two commenters, it wasn’t exactly a lively discussion. But seeing the circles themselves on Google Earth was fascinating: They were eerily perfect in their shape and regularity, but so deeply isolated in the desert. We were hooked on finding an answer.
So we decided to make a video out of trying to solve the mystery, no matter where it took us. We documented every step of the process - from Zoom calls and web browser screen recordings to vlogs and field shoots - to show the reporting process from the inside out. And when we maxed out what we could learn on the internet, we handed over this story to a team in Algeria to take it all the way.
Resources:
Check out the circles for yourself: www.google.com...
Read Will K’s original post: / ive_just_discovered_un...
Here’s the 1885 document that Melissa found: www.journals.u...
Read Dale Lightfoot on the sustainability of qanats: link.springer....
My interview with Marta Musso didn’t make the final cut, but you can check out her work on the history of the hydrocarbon industry and Algerian decolonization: www.jstor.org/...
I also spoke to Roberto Cantoni, who wrote a great book that covers the same history: www.taylorfran...
Make sure you never miss behind the scenes content in the Vox Video newsletter, sign up here: vox.com/video-n...
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com
Support Vox's reporting with a one-time or recurring contribution: vox.com/contrib...
Shop the Vox merch store: vox.com/store
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Facebook: / vox
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Hi everyone! We hope you enjoyed this adventure - this video was a huge experiment for us in format and storytelling, with months of work, dozens of contributors, and lots of moving parts.
We’d love to answer any questions you have about our process in this thread, so ask away! And if you have suggestions for the next one … leave them below, too!
-Christophe
Understandably this was a great, epic undertaking with countless hours invested. I have to say as a viewer it was well worth it. An amazing watch start to finish, with great production value. Hats off to you and the team.
What does an investigation like this cost?
More Reddit rabbit holes please! You guys did a fantastic job with this one. Did the OP of the Reddit post have anything to say about everything you uncovered?
How close did the project come to failure? After all the (seemingly) false leads, was it a matter of sunken cost? Was some sweet talking of management involved? Great stuff.
I only have two words for you: moar! MOAR! 😄
I think it's incredible that nowadays with the right searching online you can find experts on the most specific things from “Algerian Saharan oasis manager” to "french sardine can collector"
😁
To « Russian vodka manufacturer »
Right?! When he said he found a sardine can collector I was like “of course you did” 😂😭
The only thing that disappoints me is it’s not steve1989mreinfo that came to the rescue.
“Nice hiss”
I saw this comment before watching through the entire video and thought you were exaggerating with the "french sardine can collector" one. I laughed out loud when lo and behold...
Thanks guys for your comments ! Never been so proud to be a sardinologist !
It was nice seeing someone passionate about something other people see as weird or unnecessary and end up being a contribute to understand history and Unravel a mystery.
Thank you so much ❤️.
Hahahaha wow you were amazing. Who would've known someone with your hobby could've had such an impact in this adventure of stitching history together...just wow.
You're an awesome person!
What's a sardinologist?
One of the most interesting parts of this journalistic investigation was your interest for sardine cans. Awesome!
Of course there is a man, somewhere on Earth, collecting sardine cans that knows the entire history of sardine cans. Incredible.
That's the great thing about the antique business in general- There is always at least one highly specialized collector that we can call upon when an obscure mystery item props up. Knowledge is priceless.
These are the little things that just make me love humankind. Such an eccentric hobby - and yet, without him, they might never have solved this mystery! C'est magnifique!
Love that he knew all of this! Fantastic
Underrated Comment
I france we call those guys Francois Pignion. A recurring fiction name in some comedies.
I was an employee of a company called Western Geophysical in 1968 to 1969. The company performed seismic surveys all over the region of Sweetwater County in Wyoming. A typical shot required a drill hole 100 to 150 feet deep. A 5lb stick of Dynamite would be placed at the bottom of the drill hole. We would back fill the hole and then the charge would be detonated with an electric cap. The sensors would pick up the vibrations and the data would be recorded for later analysis. Our crew was among the last of the drill and blast teams. If you research the subject you should find that an incredible number of these shot holes have been a real problem. A fair number of the shots would be wet, below the water table that is. Often these holes would”blow out”. That is the back fill would fire out of the shot hole like a shot gun. These holes were very difficult for the crews to fill back in. The standard practice was to stuff drilling mud bags and sage brush as far down as we could and scrape what ever dirt and rock that we could after the bags and brush. A very large number of these holes have opened up to the surface and have developed into rather large hazards. We had no idea that a 4 inch hole could collapse into its self and surface like they have. I really don’t know if The company knew about this collapse or not. But i am sure that most if not all of the field hands had no idea.
Our surveys were not circular the drill holes were laid out in a straight line and ran for many miles. The last of the surveys i worked on were in of the Jim Bridger Power plant and coal mine. The power plant was still under construction at that time.
interesting!
Fascinating information - thank you! 💐
Amazing
wow
wow that's more than 50years ago! How old are you now Sir
This… This is the kind of content, the kind of journalism, the kind of research I’m subscribed for. Absolutely incredible.
Yes!!
exactly!
Exactly!
I hate how overused the word "this" has become.
@@Vanpotheosis like when everyone was calling everything “epic” a few years ago. 🙄
I am a 71 year old traveler. No longer able to physically go exploring. I just happened upon your story searching through TH-cam for adventure. Your relentless efforts to investigate these markings in the desert is truly an example of modern technology continuing the pursuit of the unknown. Adventure and exploration may change techniques, but the thrill of discovery remains the same.
I must agree,
Good Job!
Do you have any advice for the young traveller of life?
Check out Yes Theory if you haven't already!
@@tomascontreras5152 Been there. Done that.
I've accomplished many dreams. I've lost over 100lbs. I've broken my legs and feet 7 times adventuring. Not to mention arms and shoulders. My 1 to 10 pain level scale starts at 4. The quote from the closing of YES Theory is, "Seek discomfort"
NOPE, NO MORE. I seek pain relief now.
@@daleschroeder232 Haha, fair enough. If you ever feel like rambling about some of your stories to a camera I'll be there to watch them.
Bless your heart sir
Honestly, it's incredible how you found these people and they helped you on the journey. Professors, officials, archeologists, technology workers, etc. It shows how valuable connections really are.
... and also how intriguing the subject was. Imagine an archeologist who had no interest in this...
Don't forget the sardine can collector
and how crippling social anxiety, avoidant personality disorder is.
Also how people all over the world for the most part just want to be kind to there fellow women, & men. I love seeing other countries with no potential religious or ethnic backgrounds work together to discover things about the world we live in. I believe its just a tiny few in power that drive wedges between us all. I love seeing people work together
Even a sardine can collector
This documentary is just epic because you guys actually found answers. Most docs I watched on tv usually end up with more questions but you guys made it all the way through. I felt extremely satisfied at the end, very refreshing. Many thanks to you and everyone involved. (This was randomly suggested by yt and the title got me) Very good work.
Are you sure you were watching real documentaries and not some junk?
@@AshiStarshade talking about this type of mystery documentary. They rarely come up with answers, mostly theories. Was just expressing how satisfying it was to watch. It's not something huge like the pyramids but it a solved thing and they showed all the steps. Was a nice watch.
You're welcome
I would watch an entire series on Google Earth investigations! Mystery, adventure, speculation, expertise, this video has it all!
Yes! I left a comment abt that disc like shape in Antarctica. I would totally donate money for a crew willing to go down and get video's of what it truly is. A different kind of dessert that is equally if not more unforgiving. Keeps these kinda things a mystery.
That is needed mate...really need some folks (heros) ...long as they genuine people with genuine intentions I don't care if they wanna earn money too as long as the original intention is there passion...I would back that along with several million others when the right freelance teams pop up
Curious dark as a really cool video on,
this is a fantabulous idea!!!!
@@illbeyourstumbleine Sadly it’s far more expensive to go to Antarctica. Just to send someone out there can cost in excess of 10,000 dollars per person, and expeditions can range beyond 100,000 per person depending on the complexity and nature of the research. Although I would also love to see it done too.
From an obscure, orphaned Reddit post about a 'bunch of 22-circle marks in the middle of a desert' to a 'mind-bending 27 mins' (countless months of work at Vox) of documentary - involving the scars of colonialism, French canned food & some good ol' dynamite, this is one of the best pieces of content on the Internet.
Take a bow - Team Vox, Samir Abchiche and his Algerian crew !
hey, vox should at least link any of samir's stuff so we can support his work too!
It's amazing that there was someone who was an expert in sardine cans, and he even ran a museum of the exhibits he had found or collected! It takes a village, as they say. There are people who have these very specialised interests and you'd never know anything about them or how they had devoted their entire lives to this one, very specific, subject - until someone else comes along and requires their help. Then, suddenly, all the work they had put into this one subject is very helpful in ways that neither the expert nor the investigator could have ever envisaged.
Wow - thanks to everyone who liked my comment! You've made me very happy!
Yes!
It makes you wonder, if at that point in that person's life they get a sense that maybe all their hard work throughout the years was meant for that specific moment in time.
Yes! This is why passion is so important. May seem pointless, but passion always has its value.
His introduction was honestly the most mind blowing part of the whole video. He is like the superhero who shows up at the climax of a movie and saves everyone.
It said under the photo that it was an "imaginary museum" but in the vid they didn't say that
"I found somebody who's been collecting sardine cans for..." I greatly admire your tenacity! If anyone else could have put the pieces of the puzzle together, they would have. Since they didn't... You're the man! Seriously -- excellent work!
The most interesting part was the old desert guide from the 50's he held so much more information than most researchers and professionals due to experience it's fascinating
Yes exactly, fascinating to say the least, he got the date right and still remember the company's acronym 😬.
ماشاء الله
ربي يعطيه الصحة
Yeah that is usually....wait no that has always been the case, since forever. The difference is you have a group of people who study words on pages, written and collected from people like the old desert guide.
And then you have people like the old desert guide who gather and collects information based in and around reality as he lives it.
One group is "educated" while the other actually changes the world and lives in reality, which he can mentally grasp on a whole other level than those who are "educated"
A good professional isn't one who read 2 books, but one who spent 40 years in reality doing the work
@@googleanti-speech7618 educated vs experienced, people who study it vs people who live it
or because not much goes on there. im sure those type of things would stick out to the man who was also the desert guide around those times
50s, not 50's. Fifties, not fiftie's.
I'm speechless. This video is a gift to the world. Well done, guys.
You can't not see Vox's videos
loved every part of that video ,and every single person in that video seems really professional and passionate about their jobs. which made me kind of depressed with the boring office job i have but at least i can still enjoy watching them create this awesome video and journey
why was it a gift to the world? Its holes dug for finding oil...
@@walkerfharris Read that again, dude. I said the VIDEO is a gift to the world, not the holes.
I have such an appreciation for people actually going out and covering hundreds of kilometers to figure out what a curious find in the middle of nowhere actually is.
Now we need to get Vox on figuring out what the Richat Structure actually is.
This video isn't just about finding out what those circles are, it's fantastic storytelling, from start to finish. I can't watch a movie without losing interest in the first 5 minutes, but this? This is a masterpiece. Thank you Vox, Christophe and Samir.
How on Earth those surface scars are still visible after 70 years!? They haven't been covered with sand and dust. That's truly amazing.
That is an amazing observation
Same as the Nazca lines what you are seeing is the small rocks missing. Its not what is there. Its what isnt
There is no sand there, in the desert there are many types of floors, this area is called Hamada, it is covered with gravel, not sand.... Try to visit it , it's so beautiful.
@@TheJttv(you beat me to it! I was just about to say something similar!)
and it seems like it's located in less windy area, and neither for earthquakes nor rain. It's an incredible consistent weather for 6 decades, plus we all can see the effect of gravity compacting everything on land when nothing is blowing them away, the first geological survey teams must have wasted so much resources just to dig the hole
This was fantastic. The local Algerian crew did an especially amazing job. What a huge effort by everyone involved.
This is really how journalism should be done.
Yes
*This should be a series. Mysteries of Google Earth explored*
So many fascinating things I’ve always wanted to know what it was
Yes! It should be
Well, most things have an apparent explanation a Google click away, as if it's large enough to be seen from satellite imagery, there's probably an explanation to be found. It's less often something like this is in the middle of an enormous dessert, thus has no inhabitants, and is just faint enough to avoid discovery for a long time.
This was my thought as well (see my comment).....This has the potential to be a hit series of broadcasts....I cant think of a single reason why this would not be a EXTREMELY successful series of shows
@@kruks didn't they get the answer in the beginning? The first or second person they contacted?
I wonder. Is there a way to give this information to Google maps so they can update the What's here? option you get when right clicking a point? It would be neat if these satellite mysteries could be documented with data and videos like this.
It’s so strangely inspiring to have someone specialized for everything: You have a desert guide, a senior researcher and your sardine can expert.
You see these people with esoteric interests on Reddit a lot but it's nice to see them in real life
I'm hungry for more 🐟, I want a video about that sardine museum.
And you have bob.
This guy just took "going down an internet rabbit hole" to a whole nother level.
Main takeaway from this video, is that there’s always someone with valuable knowledge out there, and someone else who’s eagerly determined to seek for it.
I'm the guy that suggested geological survey. I wish the guy had just sent me an im through reddit about why I thought that.
And it is that aspect of the internet that represents it's greatest potential
@@fxm5715 Did you actually know about the old technique? If so, did you specify that in the comment?
Another takeaway is that you shouldn’t blindly trust “leading experts” telling you something with “100-percent confidence”. 🥴
In this case that they aren’t seismic arrays.
The fact that you replied to the reddit post gave me so much goosebumps. Like how incredible one person just curious about some small detail on the internet made a whole team and a number of people gather to help research about it, and after so many hours of hardwork and many months of preparations, it really paid off! Not just to the one who originally posted on reddit, but now the entire community who just watched your documentary! Definitely now one of my favorite documentary video and will be one of the memorable one. Thank you to all of you who made this possible!
Do you know any other video about something like that !
too bad the guy posting the original post may never see that reply, since they deleted their account
@@damomguy2801 bruh its a made up account for the video.
Very inspirational documentary. Great job to Vox and all the people and specialists that contributed to answering the curious question of a reddit user. ❤
yup, really a quest of international scale....great !
I have a degree in anthropology, and studied archeology for years. This video reminded me of why I studied what I studied. Humans have baked history into the very soil beneath our feet. Great video.
I’m currently majoring in anthropology, I feel you man! It’s so important for us to be in touch with our history and knowing what shaped the world around us!
That is what I thought aswell. I was so glad that they took an archaeologist on their expedition, as I ve seen too many of these videos where the end was inconclusive, because they didnt have experts to help them with what to look for.
I am a trained retail salesman and these tin cans reminded me of the reason why I studied what I study and just give me a boost in my mood when standing there in the store and operating the register.
Don’t know nova…see Suspicious Observers channel aka Ben Davidson 〰️
I'm taking an anthropology class in college (in Canada) and I really would like to make it my future career. Was it difficult getting a job with that degree? (Also what type of job/career path?) Hope you don't mind my curiosity 😊
why was bob so passive aggressive until the end lol
This is HANDS DOWN one of the best videos that Vox has ever made. Kudos to everyone who worked on it for doing such an excellent job. I'm studying French colonialism and will definitely be sending this incredible video to all of my professors.
This video was so underwhelming. If you enjoy hearing stories that spin in loops I guess this might be your cup of tea.
without the French doing this from the start, Algeria would have never discovered this resource. They probably decided that they should take it over after it became valuable. So , taking the expensive work of others, which they did nothing to produce or to finance it.
@@Ali-et9oz true, and i knew from t he beginning, it was just outdated exploration, thus the modern exploration guy didn't know it was old style and denied that it was exploration. it was obvious.
@@theCosmicQueen yeah, they should have asked specifically you before doing anything else!
._.
@BELIEVE in JESUS Repent to God*
I’m a geophysicist, and it was amazing to learn about this small piece of geophysics history!
Some points to add:
- As mentioned in the video, geophysical surveys requires a ‘source’ to generate acoustic wave that travels down and bounce off rock layers underneath.
- The ‘source’ used to be dynamite in the past, but have largely been replaced by ‘vibroseis’ trucks, which has a hammer-like thing on it that knocks on the ground to generate the acoustic wave.
- However, some surveys still uses dynamite! I remember a survey done in the foothills of Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan that cannot be reached by vibroseis trucks, so dynamites were used instead.
- 1950s/1960s are definitely early days for geophysical surveys, but larger surveys had certainly been done by then! The fact that the survey in the video is very far apart, I think is because it is a very early stage exploration, done just to see the rough geological structure underneath. If it had been promising they oil companies would have revisited the place and redo a denser survey.
- The dynamites are usually buried deep, around 5 to 8 m underground, so yeah, it was a good thing that they stopped digging!
But where were the dynamite sticks placed and where did the microphones go? Microphones at the center and dynamite on the outside?
@@justinhenryhaynes The sensors would be a good distance away, as the graphics show in the video. Straight down and then straight back up doesn't give you much discrimination, but measuring multiple waves that propagate down and sideways will give you the ability to triangulate and map the subsurface deposits. The center blast was probably a baseline acoustic wave to compare with the outer ring blasts. If you drew a straight line from the center and intersected one of the holes in the ring, then followed that line, you'd likely find a spot where they put sensors somewhere along the way.
@@Skinflaps_Meatslapper Good explanation
@@justinhenryhaynes The dynamite should all be used up, for seismic work you aren't required to move any soil with the blast, you are just applying a single acoustic pulse to the ground. this means the wiring that runs to the detonator and charge should not really be disturbed after firing.
This is an incredible effort Christophe, Stories and efforts like these is what brought me to Vox and all it's incredible Team's stories, thank you for taking us through this adventure.
👏
This guy is good, but an inferior Johnny harris lol
Indian bot
You are obsequious
Agreed! Keep producing videos like this Vox!
The most incredible thing about this whole story was seeing a gmail box with only one unread email.
The idea of desert guides in that area having so much knowledge about the things that went on in that area, most of which will be forgotten is so fascinating to me, makes you think of all the stories, little tidbits, general observations about life by people that came before, lost forever
Oh yes I thought exactly the same! And the only way to access their stories is to go there and speak to them. Even the best internet research won't help if the person you are looking for doesn't use it:)
@@jeremymiller4395 thankyou I was just talking with some about this today
Yeah it's kinda sad to think about all the people who had lives and stories but now they're just forgotten with nothing to relate to them
@@k.k8791 we gon be right there with them pretty soon brother, the recorded history of the world only talks about rulers and influential people of the world, not an average worker/farmer/trader that was a part of those societies and empires
Samir's an absolute legend man. He went above and beyond to figure out what the circles were. Mad respect
They definitely found the best Algerian crew they could've, they went above and beyond
couldve gotten blown up n still went ahead. gg to him.
I admire him for that...
He is absolutely amazing. Main reason why they got the answers
Vox, it would make me so happy if you made this a series. Looking for anamolies on Google Earth is a passion of mine. This is one of the few times I have an answer.
This video means a lot to me. Thank you so very much.
I love this video, a series of such investigations would be amazing!
Yeah i think that would be cool
maybe you could list some other.?
Seconded on all points. This scratched an itch so rarely scratched. Bravo team.
You should email Vox next time you see anything weird on Google maps because I enjoyed this video and want more like this.
You guys are amazing! I am so pleased to have found you.
What you do is what National Geographic used to do many, many years ago. Sadly, they don't anymore, and I have long ago lost interest in that publication. You just satisfy the enquiring mind. Keep up the great work you are doing. Thank you so much.
First off, I want to say thank you to Christophe for the dedicated work on this topic.
As an Algerian myself, this video/documentary really left me thinking about 2 things:
1. Algeria is full of mysteries. Not only is this probably 1 of the 1000s of other inexplicable things that can be found in the desert, it is one of the few that can still be investigated thanks to its recency (which has been done tremendously - hats off to the team). Which brings me to my second point.
2. Whilst many hypotheses in the beginning made sense, I, myself, knew that they could be detonators. It is well known amongst Algerians, that after the 1st World War, France used the Sahara desert as a testing ground for their weaponries. In this case, it has turned out to be a petroleum research site, but it could have been much worse.
To finish this already pretty long comment, I wanted to say, had you posted this video 2 days earlier, it would've coincided with the 8th May, which is a special date in Algeria's history, the day the massacres began in cities like Setif, Guelma and Kherrata in which 45,000 civilians were killed for celebrating the end of WW2 with Algerian flags (obviously the number of death is still subject to debate to this date : France says the number is no more than 1,100, whilst Algerian Authorities have estimated the number to be no less than 45,000 - bear in mind this massacre took place for a month and a half).
Once again, thank you to the whole team for your work. And for everyone who enjoyed the beauty of Algeria, you should come visit : I guarantee you that the beauty of the nature, the history of the country and the hospitality of the people is something to be seen.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them down below 👇🏼
- Haithem
Was scared it was a nuclear testing zone tbh 😳
@@manooxi327 there are many nuke craters in algeria and they are visible on maps . It is known that france tested its nukes in algeria ; also fun fact : althought it is a worldwide right that france gives algeria the map of where it tested nukes to this day france havent given algeria that map
can you talk about more algerian mysteries you're aware of? what kinds of things do you mean when you say that? thanks, alice
Your country is beautiful and thank you for sharing this. I had never heard of the massacres and I’m a history nerd. I’m probably on the cusp of an Algerian history rabbit hole just because of this video and you comment lol.
Thanks for this! What other mysteries can be found in the desert?
This doc really gave me chills, just imagine if that old man had passed away, you would've never known who went there and when. Think of how much history has been lost after certain people have died without passing down their knowledge
This just blew my mind.
It is not lost. There are many things in action that you do not perceive.
I mean.. the guys interview was very helpful but.. it seems like the avenue he pursued least was oil exploration. Bob told him he was barking up the wrong tree and he listened to him. I am sure someone out there would have have come up with a guess about it being an old surveying technique from the pictures alone. And then you have the cans and the documents which show that CREPS had a contract in this area at the time. Maybe it seems more obvious in hindsight though. My guess was that the redditor who deleted his account was bored and spent way too much time creating a mystery
Very true ! Really makes me wonder… there are so many things we don’t know 😉
@@krtierney this is a semantic point but an important one
Easily one of the best videos ever made on youtube. Congrats to all people involved. Thanks for the content and I hope to see more in the future
I must say the Algerian team did a fantastic job documenting the exploration with all the footages and B-rolls.
Now would like to see new satellite images of that area again with all the tire tracks and half dug up hole left behind by the team 😄
From someone living in the Algerian Sahara , this is one of the best reports and investigations I have ever seen in a while, well done 👏🏻.
Awesome!!
AGREED! It was so thorough, intriguing, and visually stunning. Bravo!
Was the old guy speaking arabic or Berber?
@@ninelaivz4334 Arabic, algerian dialect.
A youtube video, that is shorter than 30 minutes, made me feel emotions similar to watching a full scale film. To say your work is excellent is an understatement
This video is a true piece of art swimming in the vast ocean of TH-cam! As an Algerian, I deeply appreciate your fascinating investigation in our desert. I invite you to continue your exploration and uncover the secrets of Sifar, another enigmatic part of Algeria's desert. Thank you for shedding light on these wonders! 🌟 Great work !
As an Algerian doctor who works in Ain salah, I'm in awe of your investigation. this is better than a movie. I must thank you because you gave me a lost piece of my history and my culture.
💗🇩🇿
Tysm ❤️
Ch7al fi 3mrk
@@friendlycreature6375 26
@@oserapis4802
Enhorabuena 👏🎉
That guy who collects sardine cans is my kind of human, and I'm overjoyed that the singular passions of individuals can come together and create something so wonderful. Thanks for this, would love to see more!
Dude....spoilers.
and with his 'Expertise' help solve the mystery
I'll bet he was super-stoked that his expertise was finally needed.
@@wasir3703 Okay but why would someone go down to the comments before watching it? Lol.
The fact that a simple Reddit question sparked a months-long journey into the Sahara is just amazing to me. This video is really a testament to the lengths Vox will go to to answer the most random but somehow interesting questions. Hats off to you and your team, this was amazing to watch.
I hope the guy on Reddit sees this video.
@@forthehomies7043 People posted the link to this video on that thread so it's very likely that the guy saw it.
Around 17:00 - wow. Brings a whole new meaning to "the middle of nowhere".
It’s beautiful
this was amazing to watch. seeing so many professionals and experts come together to help answer this seemingly simple question was fascinating to see. what an incredible thing to document, people working together.
fesgsesehe
Their editing is one of the best
Nobody seems to pay attention to the 420 repeated 3 times in the choice of the placement... this oil company must have been owned by Freemason, only they like to choose numbers that add up to 6 and preferable times 3 so they get 666.
AGGHHH THE PROFILE PICCC, I LOVE IT SO MUCHHH, YOTSUBA IS SO UNDERRATED
Never realised so many experts can be wrong
The collector who made a museum of sardine cans is really like a bow to tie all the clues together. Museums, archives and libraries are really important no matter how bizarre their collection holds.
Heroes you would not expect, in a field hidden on the ordinary.
This is unbelievably true. So many connections to the past have been made through specific collectors who have a history that most overlook because it's, quite literally, one person's trash.
I find myself always coming back to this video because it perfectly encapsulates human curiosity. As a google earth enthusiast myself, these are the things I always wonder about. It brings me joy knowing there's others out there doing the same. Well done to everyone that worked on this project, beautifully made!
👍
Best part is most locals don't mind and even welcome the exposure, because it brings more opportunities for them. My parents used to own land in the mountains, and they and some neighbors requested the government to build a road. But it would cost roughly 8 million pesos or about $136,372.16 USD. Still way too much for my middle class family.
Don't know why YT suggest this video and the Madagascar's village one. These two are one of the best findings on the internet!
Kudos to Christophe and his crew for this amazing job!!
I clicked expecting a silly video about some patterns in the desert.
I left with an awe and deep appreciation for comprehensive journalism.
This was absolutely incredible!
Same experience here. Well said 👏🏼
I really loved this video, and at one point when you showed the sardine can pictures to that guy who collects empty cans, I really felt a deep appreciation for the variety of technical expertise we as humans have developed over time. If for not his experience in knowing about something as mundane as empty cans this mystery couldn't have been solved, and really each and every person who was involved in this project combined their skills to form a bouquet of knowledge that is this video.
M😮 you it Irrerr tprpp
Yeah, technical expertise like making obscene fetish drawings and putting them on the Internet. Truly an astounding species.
bouquet of knowledge is a beautiful expression
@@tinobemellow no other species does it like we humans!
This is the best documentary on TH-cam I’ve seen so far. The plots, the drama and the final packaging are just flawless. Great job team Vox 🚀
You should checkout Jimmy at Bright Insight, it’s like this but without all the melodrama and over-production. Jimmy actually looks at ancient structures instead of whatever this anticlimactic nothingburger was
@@Bergamot88 no
Come on now! Really?
Don’t do that, that’s embarrassing, you’re a creator, that’s the best we can hope for? With their budget?
It’s great, but you went too far, seriously
@@HigoWapsico finally someone with a brain..
Watch Lemino or Internet historian for the best documentaries bro
This is sheer reporting brilliance. Not every story needs a manufactured high-octance suspense-filled ending - but every story does need to present the right facts in a responsible manner. You guys absolutely nailed it.
The fact that the grandpa was able to recall the exact year and the name of the entity in charge of the seismic surveys with such swiftness... very impressive. Thanks Vox for such an interesting investigation.
I was very impressed with that, too.
Of course, you've got to consider that there is probably very little interaction with outsiders way out there in the desert. It makes such encounters more memorable.
Yes, his memory is INCREDIBLE! What an awesome older man, I'm sure he's seen a lot, I'd love to buy him a cup of coffee and chat about life.
@@Astrobrant2 He may have been a guide for very many people or groups over the decades though.
@@rickb06 Coffee isn't that good.
Time to investigate this man's life to see why his memory is so good. Is it due to a lifestyle of eating right, exercise, etc? The environment he's lived in? Family genetic history? The devil is always in the details.
This was EPIC. As a professional librarian who sometimes does hours (or even days) of research to look for answers to those small, niggling questions people wonder about but rarely want to pursue themselves, my hat is off to you. Excellent research, excellent resources, excellent follow-through, excellent storytelling.👏👏👏
What's the difference between a professional librarian and a normal librarian
@@Connor-kc2ns the professional one is more professional
@@mohammedali3043 And the normal one is less professional ☝🏻😲
@@Connor-kc2ns Working for the Government at the Library of Congress, or the Smithsonian, compared to a retired lady working parttime at small town library.
Could you share some answers you flu d ?
the most unbelievable is that someone has collected sardine cans in 40 years . I love to see a documentary on that guy 😁
Yes. Worrying isn’t it.
He’s been waiting for this moment his whole life. Even friends and family shunned him for his fishy obsession, he stayed true to his cause and, for that, I salute him 🫡
Anything that can be owned, will be collected by someone. Anything..
My response was ment for the !!! hello, hello person !!!!! And idfc what yall think!!!!!
This man has suffered and may be at risk !!!!!!
This is like my third time watching this. It's probably one of Vox's best pieces. It's so mundane yet so intriguing. Being able to make something that oughta be boring so interesting is just top notch storytelling.
i just want to say it is absolutely how impressive how easy it is to get all these experts on the line fast. One time I back engineered the flow velocity and pressure drop for an oil filter and asked the company and the guy that designed it literally gave me a call. It's cool to see how quickly people come together with thought-provoking and specific questions.
Yes, but will they testify in court for you?
I was reading these comments around 10 minutes in and didn't understand until I finally got to the sardine can! hahaha patience is key
@@johnwilson1094 Sounds like you have court on your mind, literally nothing to do with anything but your own criminal self. Stay out of trouble it only leads to the gas chamber!
Makes you realize how untouched that region is. The fact that 70-year-old tire tracks are still visible!
Why can't a bicycle stand up by itself?
Because it's two tired!
Co-hoh! Heheheh
yeah untouched like you 💀
But doesn't the sand shifts by the wind blowing? Won't it cover the tracks?
@@nw2861 ,,You see, here in Miami, we can tell everything by the flow of the blow."
(Arnold Schwarzenegger, Raw Deal)
@@nw2861 I guess heavy vehicles compacted and shaped the tracks, thus they stick out. Sand is also different from one region to another and is blown around differently or winds aren't as strong to move whole sand dunes, so they remain there and with little erosion or rain they're pretty much permanent features... Kind of like Nazca lines still remain visible.
This is so good. I’m mind blown at the fact I get to enjoy this content for free. Keep it up Vox.
soooo good
You're paying in anyway or other 😂
don't give them ideas
@@sambensediq8934 bot comment
You can click join button if you want to support the channel.
I just cannot stop binge-watching this series, it is just incredible. The effort, the production quality, the presentation, the end result. Simply mind-blowing. Keep it going lads!
I'm amazed that not only is there an expert-in and collector-of sardine cans, but that you found him AND he was instrumental in putting together the pieces of this puzzle. What a journey! I've also spent many, many hours on Google Earth in the Sahara marveling at the cool stuff there is just lying around there. I want to go too!
I'd say the sardine can collector just made their search easier. The digging rights for oil is public data, and knowing that it's oil surveys meant t hat they can narrow down their search in public archives, it would take months maybe but they will eventually find it.
I’ve been there many times and it is definitely the most amazing and fascinating place I’ve ever been to.
Gonna be hard... Algeria doesn't allow many tourists. I'm lucky to have dual citizenship in Canada & Algeria and even then, it took a while for me to be able to go back to my homeland
If you ever get the chance to come, you should visit the peak of Assekram, I warn you though, you may want to never leave that place.
I collect thumbells from the past century and UK 🇬🇧 soup spoons. so if anyone needs my historic knowledge of tapestry and hand sewing lmk. I'll be glad to help.
This is far better than any Netflix movie I watched this year. I was a huge fan and promoter of Vox for years, but with this video you just nailed it. Every little detail of Vox editing style, subtle sounds, graphics, perfect insertions at the right moment, it's a true work of art. You are the leaders of TH-cam storytelling.
Istoče, hvala ti na preporučenom filmu. Ovo je odlično odrađeno!
Kao i uvijek Istok nas uputi na jako interesantnu i kvalitno obrađenu temu, Hvala Istok!
I wonder who their editor is
You can’t be serious
You checked out mr ballen
I never realized I'd be interested in random isolated circles and sardine cans. Amazing storytelling and what an interesting meet up of people from around the world.
Me neither lol
One of the best videos I've seen on TH-cam. Thank you for creating this content!
I love how no matter how seemingly inconsequential something seems, like old sardine cans, there’s always someone who thinks it is important enough to become an expert in it… and they often end up being right. The world needed an expert.
Absolutely!
@@connorlancaster7541 Haha, that's hilarious. ^^
@@iamnotpaulavery yeah but knowing the sardine can collector was inconsequential. The simultaneous interview with the old guy solved the puzzle.
This journal is worthy of an international award for real. Its history would've been lost forever if not for the thorough research about it. Even Bob, the supposed leading expert in seismic survey doesn't know what a primitive work looks like.
It deserves some sort of award, I concur. Absolutely wonderful how this mystery ultimately ties into the history of Algeria, French colonialism and the Algerian independence through the micro-cosmos of sahel resource surveying. The collaboration and input from so many experts. The tenacity and thoroughness of both Vox and the Algerian field team. All of it, beautiful. Oh, and dynamite! Everyone loves dynamite!
Not so primitive, exactly. 65-70 years ago. What it also shows, though, is that sitting at a desk staring at a screen can’t always give you answers.
@@susanc4622 Yep. The virtual is overrated.
@@Gunth0r what if... the entire universe is virtual?
@@MS-pz9wd if it is, then so am I, which makes its virtuality irrelevant to my experience of how real things are. And I'm talking about information technology, obviously.
I'd like to congratulate you for your humanitarian efforts. I don't know if any of your viewers have realized it yet, but it seems to me that you spend quite a lot of money funding expeditions to make these videos. Often, people from poor parts of the world who need money the most are rewarded with the funds that you provide to go out on these expeditions. And in return, us 1st-worlders who have just too much of so many things get our little bit of entertainment out of watching these curious videos. Thank you for doing what you do.
I was totally not expecting to be riveted by an investigation into some holes in the desert, but here we are.
Great journalism and a fascinating look at how something, so seemingly innocuous, is actually an essential element of a tumultuous period of Algerian and French history.
I found it interesting, that in any other context, finding out about a man who made a museum about sardine cans I would say to myself "why? what for?"
Then today, I've released the importance of anything and everything. Someone's hobby, someone's passion helped someone discover something amazing. Without passions, we have no knowledge. This is fracking awesome. (pun intended)
im thanking year 9 geography for allowing me to understand your pun
yes I felt this was a big takeaway !! may we all live out our niches
I totally would want to see sardine cans museum tho. Canned food has been in our history for a while now. The earliest canned food was invented around early 1800s. The cans represent the history of the food it contains/ed.
And now we also now how the "frack" slur on BSG originated in their timeline …
Exactly 💯
as an Algerian myself, this video was quite fun and informative to watch, would love seeing more
username checks out
it was so captivating
Makanch traduction en Arabe ?
machekitche Tbane jdida ...sayi traduction automatique
@@nabilsaadi8704 fiha ghi anglais
Wow everything on this channel is so high quality! Huge props
The amount of research, manpower, expertise, and effort for this video is just magnificent and inspiring. Thank you for this video, Vox. Especially the to Christophe, the people interviewed, and whole team in Algeria who went there personally. ❤️❤️❤️
"They're evidence of one country's attempts to take the resources of another" - that part gave me chills.
Like Russia today
@Dark Knight whataboutism
@@calvinnyala9580 Nope, its about keeping things in context, and not forgetting the past.
Same. I got spooked.
@@calvinnyala9580 no it isn't, people just mindlessly say russia now and forget everything that happened before
Honestly, the most amazing thing about this video is learning that there is a person who not only collects sardine cans, but made a museum out of them.
Yeah it came full circle 🔵
Lol no but seriously
@@khalilahd. Not trying to sound creepy but, WE WATCH THE SAME VIDEO TF. I've seen you comment in the channels I watch.
@@khalilahd. lol
Agreed, I laughed out loud at the idea that there is an 'expert' for just about any little segment of obscura out there.
You have done some great journalism in the last couple of months! Keep up the good work
As an Algerian, with a bachelor degree in archaeology, this was absolutely fascinating to watch.
Fr
@@benladen4415 Fr is for the slaves only.
تتوقع عندنا بالسعوديه زي كذا
@@Razan3bdullah ايه فيه
@@sidaliamraoui5060 وين تعرف
As an archaeologist I can safely say that if I watched this video as a 15 year old it would have ignited the passion for discovering our world's history within me.
Incredible video. Thank you for your research.
You're drunk again Mr. Leahy !
@@SabbaticusRex I am the liquor.
I'm not sure which is the greater achievement - answering the question about the circles, or winning Bob's praise? Well done on both accounts!
Rhis is straight out like a moive like, the cinematography, narrative and all its just sooo good idk what to say anymore
This was utterly, utterly FASCINATING - not just because you started with an enigmatic detail on a satellite photo and through sheer dogged persistence unraveled its mystery - but the piece's visual style and pacing (& how onscreen graphics, zoom conversations, etc were woven through it) had a totally fresh feel to it. I don't know if you can submit this for a documentary short subject Oscar nomination, but you totally should.
Agreed
U don’t get Oscar’s for documentaries .. you get Emmy’s ! JST ad to let y know
@@vizon-aryproductions6191 sometimes producers & studios run films made for TV for a week in an LA theater to qualify for an Oscar. (Netflix gets lots of nom's for films they've commissioned for their streaming service.)
@@connorlancaster7541 That's exactly what a liar, posing as a pious man would say.
@@joestrike8537 pssst! Hey Joe! 👋 I got a little upset about this too, then realized whether it be troll or truth, let's not feed it 😉
As an Algerian , I thank you for this video , it only shows the scars that the french government left here , and I invite you to investigate more in the nuclear experiments in the Sahara which left so many horrors and hidden story's ,good job and good luck for this channel .
@Hernando Malinche benefit from nuclear radiation !? Okay 🙄
@Hernando Malinche then what? We should thank them ?
This is a pretty balled claim i must say, could you please check your historical information, indeed some of algerian land was inherited from France but the major part ( including Sahara) was under algerian control.
The discovery of petroleum was and still a indeed a big benefet but i'll ever never show any gratitude to France, that criminal colonial country ( yes there good examples of good colonisation just like the UK) petroleum is nothing literally nothing next to all the genocides they did in all Africa.
France must thank us to save them from Hitler in WWll.
Please Bro do more research to see the awfulness of France colonisation.
Thank you for expressing your opinion really appreciate it 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
@Hernando Malinche Why should we thank them for segregation, Islamophobia, homicide, war crimes, famines, rapings, torture of civilians and brutal oppression of the natives?
@Hernando Malinche typical white colonialist, there is no such thing as benefit french is one of the evil and racist countries in the world
All these people from different origins, languages, and beliefs all coming together to try find an answer for this question. This is the very definition of the human condition, to over come obstacles what a incredible video.
the human condition is war and lying. not coming together to make a TH-cam video.
To overcome obstacles by working together! Imagine the amount of work he would have had to do if he’d done it by himself. We’d never know what the rings are.
Yes, imagine if they implement “ The Resource Based Economy “ by Jacque Fresco , there will be no disputes between countries or even war.
its just a google ad
That is why it is important to learn languages.
The professor who so confidently told you these weren’t the result of seismic survey is concerning. Concerning that he was that closed minded and sure of him self…
Exactly, I really judge Bob. He made a blanket statement with no wiggle room and no accounting for advancement of technology. Given his expertise in the field, I would take him largely at his word, as did the creator of this. We all make mistakes but the finality of his statement as well as an apparent lack of a mea culpa sort of bothers me.
professors mindset, they 100% of everything, forgetting that been looking into 1 tiny thing for 5+ years whing the world is still going
I almost stopped watching because I thought “why watch 30 min just to find out what it is?” But wow, this video isn’t about what was found but the determination and investigation skills needed to find out what it is. It really helps understand how long and difficult it si for many of investigations into say more serious matters.
He handled this investigation 10 times better than how the police here handle murder investigations 🤣🤣
@@algeriaforever1942 Most police either don't have the money or the will or intelligence to do such investigations. Or a combo of 2 or all 3 of them.
@@Homer-OJ-Simpson I agree.
@@algeriaforever1942 Now, the FBI or CIA is a different story.
Bob seemed like a tough person to impress and you guys did it. Well done.
Bob knew what those were...
Professor Bob from U-Texas was stuck in his thinking on how seismic surveys are conducted today and improperly refuted the initial theory. His curt dismissal of "no need to chat" displays classic academic haughtiness. A quick conversation might have brought up the question of how seismic surveys were done in years past.
@@pekemo This changes me. I don't want to be like Bob when I'm old.
Bob reminds me of the arrogant uni professors that i used to know.
This is modern-day archaeology at its finest. Forever that history is now recorded for all of mankind to know into the future. Thank you so much for taking the time and resources to make all of this happen. It was a fantastic watch
truly eye opening to the traces we leave on this earth. amazing video to watch
It’s fascinating that the tyre tracks have persisted for nearly three-quarters of a century. I wonder how long the ones left by the researchers will also last.
@@kaitlyn__L I always assumed that sandstorms would get rid of them though? (I know nothing about deserts)
@@Furby-luv3r I’d’ve thought that too from first principles. Other commenters explained that when sand is compacted and densified enough (eg from the heavy machinery they brought to survey for oil) it can take centuries to be blown away or get covered up completely
@@kaitlyn__L ohhh okay yeah that makes sense!! Thanks a lot! 🥰🤙
I was really deeply amazed how dedicated Vox team and all the people involved and helped in every documentary. Kudos! Thank you so much for this.
Hats off to the wise Desert Guide's father, for remembering such a mundane detail from decades ago.
Agreed, but I guess when it’s foreigners searching for oil on land where you had lived your whole life, the details are not that mundane?
A man whose hobby is collecting sardine cans provided a key piece of information for this investigation.
I think that's awesome. I'm sure many people out there would say such a hobby is weird but it just goes to show even weird things are useful.
He collects the cans. I, on the other hand, collect the _sardines._
It's mad how there's a specialist for literally everything
@@sam_maund3r Finding them is the hard part.
@@theplacedowntheroad yh trust. Like honestly a guy who collects french tuna tins 😅😅 how do u even look for that ahaha
@@sam_maund3r
😂😂😂 Never crossed my mind mate
This is an incredible journey for knowledge and adventure to accompany it. What an awesome video. Please make more like this!
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Well observed! I concur!
+1
You could make song out of this
The job you guys did in Algeria left everyone amazed! But hey Christopher, the Algerian Sahara has so many mystery to uncover, why don't you do other works on it? There's the city of Sifar for instance. Or the devil star in Tinduf (that you can see through Google earth too).
You can never impress a BOB. Great video man ❣️ watched a full mistery unravel.
"The circles are the scars of colonialism. They're evidence of one country's attempts to take the resources of another". I was expecting some sort of cultural heritage but nothing remarkable to see, just history to be remembered. Amazing content!
Colonialism itself becomes part of the cultural heritage of the countries being colonialised... ;-)
So true the Arabs stole the land in the 700s and murdered the natives, the rest were used as slaves...
how fascinating humanity is
@kiwibass, or part of cultural local heritage destroyed!
@Hernando Malinche Some Christians destroyed all african civilizations, and stole the rest and put it in their museums.
Wow. This is one of the best stories seen on TH-cam in a while. It's incredible what you can figure out and do just from your house. You talked to numerous experts, used satellite imagery, and even sent someone out to the actual location of the circles. The storytelling in this video was incredible.
This was a story i wasn't initially interested in but accidentally clicked it and after it started to play, i couldn't stop it because of how well the story was told as well as the amount of research that went into making of this video, this is one of the best videos ever posted online
This is one of the best videos I've ever seen on TH-cam. It felt like an old school explorer, diving into a mystery unknown. The differing opinions of the experts was fascinating, and the fact that the guy who helped cinch it all together was a man who just casually collects sardine cans is wild. I would love more of these sorts of videos!
The due diligence displayed here is phenomenal. Journalism at its absolutely finest. An incredible video and the exact kind of content I want to be watching on TH-cam.
i wonder if anyone actively uses this technique of storytelling to counter misinformation. in my country, journalistic practices are not known by many people so journalism, in the popular imagination, is seen as just writing stuff. the legwork as well as the decisions are usually not thought of. google can probs answer this question (so off to google 😅)
I couldn't agree more! The persistence of pursuit... absolutely inspiring!
I would love to dedicate myself to this
you took words out of my mouth. i would like to resonate, it is very satisfying to watch!
In all honesty, I just would have gone with aliens and saved all that time and money
The Algerian desert is one of the most mysterious places on planet earth. I would love to see an episode like this done on the ancient city of Sefar in Algerian desert, it's one of the biggest ancient cities on the planet but it's very mysterious and un-studied.
There's evidence of psychoactive mushroom usage in there... just saying lol
@@BitmapFrogs even more reason to explore it if you ask me lol
@@RA-zv8xm it's hard to visit Algeria and you are welcome in Algeria Oran city 😊
I can't even begin to describe how much I liked this video. This was a true mystery and y'all managed to get to the bottom of it. You guys are great!
Wow i came expecting something and found something else totally educational and ill never regret clicking on your videos.
I consider myself the biggest vox's Algerian fan 🇩🇿😄
The mystery of Ain Salah holes has been a room for all kinds of superstitious over the past years here, I'm so glad and thankful for you guys for this amazing work you put out for the world.
Thank you so much 🖤
What about opening a reddit channel for Vox followers and science seekers?