Who made these markings in the Iranian desert?

A geographer emailed me a question. Could I solve it on the internet? Get an exclusive 15% discount on Saily eSIM data plans! Download Saily app and use code https://saily.com/tunnelvision at checkout. Deep in the southeast corner of Iran, there’s a stretch of desert covered in countless strange markings. They vary slightly in orientation and size, but they’re all roughly the same shape: curved lines, almost like fish scales. The markings surround a remote village nestled between mountains, just over 100 kilometers from the border with Pakistan. And at first glance, I had no idea what they could be. I first heard about this place from a geographer named Dale Lightfoot, who had found them on Google Earth while doing his own research. He didn’t know what they were, and neither did any of the fellow experts he asked. The question sent me down a rabbit hole of social media geolocation, research papers, and Instagram DMs — and the answer I found told a fascinating story of how one community was building toward a better future. Read some of Fatemeh’s work here: https://www.mei.edu/profile/fatemeh-aman I forgot to add the yellow progress bar under the ad — we've marked it as a chapter and won't forget that ad marker next time! Hello and welcome! Tunnel Vision is a new independent video news show that dives deep into mysteries from all corners of the internet. With a commitment to transparency, we pull back the curtain on the journalistic process, emphasizing the journey of discovery rather than simply presenting the final answer. Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any videos: @christophe About: Christophe Haubursin is a journalist and video creator. Before launching Tunnel Vision he worked at Vox.com for 8 years, where he made videos for Vox’s YouTube channel, hosted the show Glad You Asked, and produced on the Netflix series Explained. He lives in Brooklyn. Got story ideas or tips? Reach out to the team at: Twitter: / haubursin -- CHAPTER TITLES -- 00:00 - 00:57 Intro 00:58 - 02:00 Searching the internet 2:01 - 3:14 Ad 3:15 - 4:27 A new clue 04:28 - 6:27 Interviewing experts 6:28 - 8:26 Finding answers 08:27 - 13:27 A better answer