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Sites mfrincu has logged. View these posts as a Blog
Click here to view the sites mfrincu would like to visit or view the most recent logs from everyone
Sites mfrincu has logged. View these posts as a Blog
Click here to view the sites mfrincu would like to visit or view the most recent logs from everyone
| Site Name (A/D) |
Site Type | Country (A/D) |
County/ Region | Visited? (A/D) |
Date (A/D) |
Cond | Amb | Acc | Comments | Trip Number (A/D) |
Trip Order |
| Painted Rock, Carrizo Plain | Rock Art | United States | The West | Visited | 11th Nov 2013 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||
| Bishop Eastern Sierra Petroglyphs | Rock Art | United States | The West | Visited | 16th Nov 2014 | 4 | 3 | Not very easy to find from the main road. You need to have prior knowledge of the few sites accessible by dirt roads only or you can spend a few days exploring. The Sierra Nevada mountains are amazing too but the petroglyphs themselves are splendid! | |||
| Brunette Lady | Rock Art | United States | The West | Visited | 14th Feb 2015 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Beautiful pictograph hidden from hikers' sight. | ||
| Red lady | Rock Art | United States | The West | Visited | 14th Feb 2015 | 4 | 4 | 4 | You need to know where to look for it even with the marker a few meters away. | ||
| Blythe Intaglios | Hill Figure or Geoglyph | United States | The West | Visited | 11th Nov 2013 | 4 | 3 | 3 | Spirals and human figures. Walk around the enclosures to find the best spot to view them. | ||
| Topock Maze | Misc. Earthwork | United States | The West | Visited | 15th Nov 2014 | 3 | 3 | 4 | Only for the passionate. The place consists of long parallel lines going straight or in circles and has been deteriorated when the interstate was built. Not as impressive as Blythe Intaglios but still a good example of native art. | ||
| Grapevine Canyon | Rock Art | United States | The West | Visited | 16th Nov 2014 | 4 | 5 | 4 | The place consists of hundreds of petroglyphs with others possibly hidden around. Most are in excellent condition. I suspect at least one solstice marker there but someone will have to go and verify. | ||
| Swansea petroglyph site | Rock Art | United States | The West | Couldn't find | O looked for this place in our expedition to the Eastern Sierra petroglyph sites. However lack of markings and willingness from others to share the coordinates left us wondering. | ||||||
| Valley of Fire - Atlatl Rock | Rock Art | United States | The West | Visited | 4th Dec 2013 | 3 | 5 | 4 | Magnificent site although a little bit tricky to take good pictures from behind the fence installed to protect the art work. Also quite close the Mouse Tank canyon another splendid petroglyph site. | ||
| Tataviam Pictograph Site | Rock Art | United States | The West | Visited | 13th Jun 2015 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||
| Inscription Canyon | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 26th Mar 2014 | 3 | 4 | 2 | You can easily get lost in all the dirt roads but once you find it, the collection of petroglyphs is amazing! | ||
| 17 Mile Point | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 19th Feb 2014 | 2 | 4 | 4 | Not so many petroglyphs. Most are hard to spot; time has left its mark. | ||
| Tortoise Shell Mountain | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 19th Feb 2014 | 4 | 5 | 2 | Requires a very long walk from the visitor center, however if you are in Mojave you should go out and explore. There are some dirt roads leading to it but nothing compares to a 3hr round trip hike through the desert in winter! You get to see lots of animals too. | ||
| Land Hill Petroglyphs | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Couldn't find | We passed twice on the road on our way to this site but missed the entrance. I guess a better sign should be installed. | ||||||
| Barker Dam Trail | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 10th Oct 2014 | Easy to find and spot right on the Barker Dam Trail. Contains few artwork panels in good shape. What it is nice about this place it's that it combines both pictographs and petroglyphs. | |||||
| Bright Angel Trail | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 22nd Jun 2014 | 3 | 5 | 3 | You need to know where to look for them. Just follow the trail into the canyon and pay attention to your left as you go through the 1st tunnel. You will see few red pictographs on the canyon walls. Take a good lens of at least 100-200mm. | ||
| Chumash Painted Cave | Cave or Rock Shelter | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 1st Mar 2014 | 3 | 3 | 5 | The cave can be easily found following a paved road up hill towards some remote communities near the Pacific coast. The place is in a forest and there is room for a few cars to park. I liked the complexity of the artwork but disliked that contemporary humans had to ruin the site by spraying paint ov... Read More |
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| Tusayan Ruins | Ancient Village or Settlement | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 20th Jun 2014 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Nice bonus to our Grand Canyon visit. It contains a museum with local artifacts and some information on the inhabitants. I suspect the kiva's vent to point to the winter solstice sunrise but accurate measurements are needed. It definitely points E-SE. | ||
| Wupatki Pueblo | Ancient Village or Settlement | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 23rd Jun 2014 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Just one of the many other pueblos on the loop drive. Others to see include Wukoki and Citadel. | ||
| V/V | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 16th Jun 2014 | 4 | 4 | 3 | We visited this site around the summer solstice and got to see the breathtaking solstice marker in action! We had no idea about it being an archeoastronomical site and were actually on our way to the Petrified Forest for witnessing the solstice sun dagger there. | ||
| Montezuma Well | Ancient Village or Settlement | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 20th Jun 2014 | 3 | 5 | 5 | Beautiful oasis with cliff dwellings all around. It is also close to other ancient sites. | ||
| Montezuma Castle | Ancient Village or Settlement | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 20th Jun 2014 | 4 | 5 | 5 | My first cliff dwelling! Simply amazing. I have seen many after it but Montezuma Castle is one of my favorites. | ||
| Tuzigoot Monument | Ancient Village or Settlement | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 20th Jun 2014 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Site in pretty good shape containing some reconstructed chambers where you can admire and feel what the original inhabitants felt. A must see place. A bit windy too. | ||
| Puerco Pueblo Petroglyphs | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 21st Jun 2014 | 3 | 4 | 5 | We visited this place exactly on the Summer Solstice day and witnessed the sun dagger around 9AM. | ||
| Newspaper Rock (Petrified Forest) | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 21st Jun 2014 | 4 | 5 | 5 | We explored this place from the parking lot using a 300mm lens. | ||
| Hovenweep - Square Tower | Ancient Village or Settlement | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 30th Nov 2014 | 3 | 5 | 4 | Amazing collection of ruins near the 4 corner area. For best light visit early morning or late evening. The "castle tower" also acts as a summer and winter solstice marker. | ||
| Mesa Verde | Ancient Village or Settlement | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 29th Nov 2014 | 4 | 5 | 5 | We visited this park during winter time but fortunately some of the ruins were still accessible and open. Look for the guided tours and also visit early morning to avoid the crowds. | ||
| Chaco Culture NHP | Ancient Village or Settlement | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 28th Nov 2014 | 4 | 5 | 4 | Superb ambience and lots of kivas to see and explore. We've done the loop plus the trail to the supernova pictograph in just one day. | ||
| Petroglyph Nat. Mon. | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 1st Dec 2014 | 3 | 3 | 4 | Literary hundreds of petroglyphs in two sites few kms of each other. Some show signs of vandalism. Be sure to arrive early in the morning to see some wildlife too. | ||
| Three Rivers Petroglyphs | Rock Art | United States | The Southwest | Visited | 27th Nov 2014 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Hundreds of beautiful petroglyphs and even an ancient site to visit. | ||
| Bighorn Medicine Wheel | Stone Circle | United States | The Northwest Mountains | Visited | 21st Jun 2015 | 4 | 5 | 4 | I visited this place aiming to catch the summer solstice sunrise and sunset here. While it was cloudy for the sunset the sunrise offered a magnificent view and the stone alignment was perfectly visible. | ||
| Legend Rock | Rock Art | United States | The Northwest Mountains | Visited | 23rd Jun 2015 | 3 | 4 | 4 | The place is open May through September. Outside this interval a key is needed from the Chamber of Commerce in Thermopolis. The site contains 15 petroglyph panels each explained in the free brochure. There is some damage to some but not considerable. | ||
| Pictograph Caves | Rock Art | United States | The Northwest Mountains | Visited | 21st Jun 2015 | 4 | 4 | Unfortunately when I got here the cave was closed due to some rock slides. It was due for reopening by mid July. Hopefully the cave itself was not damaged. | |||
| Newark Earthworks - Octagon | Misc. Earthwork | United States | Great Lakes Midwest | Visited | 2nd Jul 2015 | 3 | 3 | 5 | The entire place is a golf course which may contribute to its damage. There is a small platform from where you can see part of the octagon and observatory circle but it is too short. It should be at least as tall as the one at the Serpent Mound (another site). From the platform you can best view the... Read More |
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| Newark Earthworks - Great Circle | Misc. Earthwork | United States | Great Lakes Midwest | Visited | 2nd Jul 2015 | 3 | 3 | 5 | Unfortunately the site does not have a platform to view at least parts of it such as the Eagle mound in the center. However the visitor center does have some nice films and exhibits. | ||
| Serpent Mound, Ohio | Artificial Mound | United States | Great Lakes Midwest | Visited | 2nd Jul 2015 | 4 | 4 | 5 | Excellent preserved. The tall platform offers a great view of the mound except for the tail and part of the head. The alignments with the Sun and Moon are clearly marked. The museum offers a nice collection of books and souvenirs as well as a 20 minute movie. | ||
| Hopewell Culture National Historic Site | Misc. Earthwork | United States | Great Lakes Midwest | Visited | 2nd Jul 2015 | 4 | 3 | 5 | Rangers are very helpful and answer all questions. There is also a 20 minute film giving an overview of the culture. | ||
| Tabula Traiana | Carving | Serbia | Visited | 17th Aug 2015 | 4 | 5 | 5 | A short 10 minute boat trip from the Romanian side took me to this ancient monument. | |||
| Sarmizegetusa Regia citadel | Hillfort | Romania | Visited | 1st Aug 2012 | 4 | 4 | 4 | One of the most mysterious places in Romania. The Dacians have left here a wonderful example of their skills and knowledge. Part of the complex, especially the wooden pillars in the great circle were reconstructed for a movie shot in the 1980s. | |||
| Costesti-Cetatuie Dacian citadel | Hillfort | Romania | Visited | 1st Aug 2012 | 3 | 4 | 4 | The initial Dacian capital. There are few fortified houses visible as well as a religious sanctuary. | |||
| Parta Neolithic Sanctuary | Ancient Temple | Romania | Visited | 31st Jul 2015 | -1 | 3 | 4 | I have visited the reconstruction inside the museum while filming for an episode in my documentary on the first astronomers. The temple is awesome, way more impressive than the pictures. The statues are simply astonishing. | |||
| Cornesti-Iarcuri Bronze Age Fortification | Misc. Earthwork | Romania | Visited | 31st Jul 2015 | 1 | 4 | 4 | I have visited this place while filming an episode for my show on the first astronomers. On site it is hard to see the site given its size. From within the inner circle the closest earthworks are visible as earth waves near the horizon. The discoverer of the alignment explained me in detail where he... Read More |
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| Chindiei 2 Cave | Rock Art | Romania | Visited | 15th Aug 2015 | 3 | 5 | 3 | Not easy to find. Follow instructions on the site or ask a local about it. You will need good boots and long pants and sleeves to protect you from the bushes. | |||
| The face of Dacian King Decebalus | Sculptured Stone | Romania | Visited | 17th Aug 2015 | 5 | 5 | 5 | I took a boat trip to this statue. Amazing masonry and splendid views! | |||
| Sucidava | Ancient Village or Settlement | Romania | Visited | 19th Aug 2015 | 2 | 4 | 4 | The site is currently reconditioned with a new visitor center and paved trails. Estimated time of completion is late 2016. However it is still open to visitors. | |||
| Crangu Artifical Mounds | Artificial Mound | Romania | Saw from a distance | 19th Aug 2015 | 3 | 3 | 2 | I have seen these mounds while driving along the road. The entire place is flat so my guess it that they have to be artificial. | |||
| Cernica Neolithic Tombs | Barrow Cemetery | Romania | Visited | 20th Aug 2015 | -1 | 3 | 4 | The place is on the shores of the Cernica lake. I found it by following a 1km dirt road. Park the car at the last house and follow the dirt road heading towards the lake. Turn left where it splits and keep looking for the cross on the right. Even if you miss it you are in the right place as the buri... Read More |
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| Adamclisi Museum of Antiquities | Museum | Romania | Visited | 21st Aug 2015 | 4 | 4 | 5 | Modern museum focusing on the Tropaeum Traiani monument. | |||
| Capidava | Ancient Village or Settlement | Romania | Saw from a distance | 20th Aug 2015 | 3 | 4 | 4 | The site is being reconditioned and cannot be visited. Estimated completion time is end of 2015. | |||
| Callatis | Ancient Village or Settlement | Romania | Visited | 23rd Aug 2015 | 2 | 4 | 5 | ||||
| Histria | Ancient Village or Settlement | Romania | Visited | 21st Aug 2015 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||||
| Fertility menhir | Standing Stone (Menhir) | Romania | Visited | 21st Aug 2015 | 4 | 3 | 5 | ||||
| Istria burial site | Barrow Cemetery | Romania | Saw from a distance | 21st Aug 2015 | 3 | 4 | 3 | ||||
| Argamum | Ancient Village or Settlement | Romania | Visited | 21st Aug 2015 | 2 | 5 | 3 | ||||
| Costesti-Blidaru Dacian citadel | Hillfort | Romania | Visited | 6th Sep 2015 | 4 | 5 | 3 | The trail is clearly marked with a white and blue vertical stripes all the way from the road to the site. I was in good shape and made it in 40 minutes.
It is the only Dacian fortress whose walls have never been breached. The defenders had to surrender after the Romans besieged them and cut their... Read More |
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| Tartaria Tablets | Rock Art | Romania | Visited | 4th Sep 2015 | 5 | 4 | 5 | The monument marks the discovery of the Tartaria Tablets. It is not placed on the actual spot where the tablets were discovered. | |||
| Simeria mound | Artificial Mound | Romania | Saw from a distance | 5th Sep 2015 | 4 | 4 | 2 | A large mound on a hilltop. | |||
| Magura Uroiului | Ancient Village or Settlement | Romania | Visited | 5th Sep 2015 | 2 | 4 | 4 | Archaeological digs are still taking place. Several defensive earth walls are visible. | |||
| Pachacamac | Ancient Temple | Peru | Visited | 2nd Apr 2015 | 3 | 4 | 4 | The mist in the morning over the ruins is amazing. The Temple of the Sun and also the Temple of Pachacamac (Painted Temple) align with the winter solstice sunrise. | |||
| Huaca Huantille | Pyramid / Mastaba | Peru | Visited | 1st Apr 2015 | 3 | 3 | 5 | Reconstructed pyramid in the heart of Lima. | |||
| Huaca Pucllana | Pyramid / Mastaba | Peru | Visited | 2nd Apr 2015 | 3 | 3 | 5 | Large complex still partly unexcavated. | |||
| Caral | Ancient Village or Settlement | Peru | Visited | 3rd Apr 2015 | 3 | 5 | 4 | The oldes ruins in the Americas. It is said this is the 2nd oldest civilization on Earth after Sumer. Many of pyramids some in good shape. The place is near a river similar with Giza in Egypt near the Nile. | |||
| Machu Picchu. | Ancient Village or Settlement | Peru | Visited | 5th Apr 2015 | 5 | 5 | 4 | Breathtaking! This is one of a "must see in your life" places! | |||
| Ollantaytambo | Ancient Village or Settlement | Peru | Visited | 4th Apr 2015 | 5 | 5 | 4 | Summer and winter solstice markers have been recently identified here. | |||
| Pisac Ruins | Ancient Village or Settlement | Peru | Visited | 7th Apr 2015 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||||
| Tambomachay | Ancient Village or Settlement | Peru | Visited | 7th Apr 2015 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||||
| Puca Pucara | Stone Fort or Dun | Peru | Visited | 7th Apr 2015 | 4 | 4 | 5 | ||||
| Sacsayhuaman | Hillfort | Peru | Visited | 7th Apr 2015 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||||
| Qenko | Ancient Temple | Peru | Visited | 7th Apr 2015 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||
| Chichen Itza | Ancient Village or Settlement | Mexico | Yucatan | Visited | 28th Dec 2013 | 5 | 5 | 4 | Breathtaking! The size and complexity of the site is amazing! You need at least a couple of days to explore. Don't take bus tours as you'll arrive late and don't see much! | ||
| Ek Balam | Ancient Village or Settlement | Mexico | Yucatan | Visited | 27th Dec 2013 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |||
| Tulum | Ancient Village or Settlement | Mexico | Quintana Roo | Visited | 27th Dec 2013 | 5 | 5 | 4 | Splendid Maya city by the seaside! | ||
| Coba' | Ancient Village or Settlement | Mexico | Quintana Roo | Visited | 28th Dec 2013 | 3 | 5 | 4 | |||
| Teotihuacan | Ancient Village or Settlement | Mexico | Visited | 30th Dec 2013 | 5 | 5 | 5 | The pyramids are some of the best preserved I've ever seen! A must. Take a local bus from Mexico City and stay there for 4-5 hours! Explore on your own. | |||
| Luine | Rock Art | Italy | Lombardia | Visited | 24th Aug 2016 | 3 | 5 | 5 | The lady at the reception is well informed and pleasant to talk to. | ||
| Cemmo Stones | Rock Art | Italy | Lombardia | Visited | 24th Aug 2016 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| Naquane | Rock Art | Italy | Lombardia | Visited | 24th Aug 2016 | 3 | 5 | 5 | The walk from the parking lot to the entrance is quite long. Only cash accepted. | ||
| Newgrange | Passage Grave | Ireland (Republic of) | Co. Meath | Visited | 5th May 2013 | 5 | 5 | 5 | My first passage grave. I heard from it when reading about the megalithic yard and Uriel's device in a recent book. Fairly reconstructed so it may have lost some of its original "magic". | ||
| Kerareshwarah Temple | Ancient Temple | India | Visited | 17th Jul 2015 | 4 | 4 | 5 | ||||
| Moralepara Dolmens | Burial Chamber or Dolmen | India | Visited | 16th Jul 2015 | 3 | 4 | 4 | The correct coordinates for the site are: 12° 38' 12.84" N and 78° 5' 55.93" E
The site is located on a hill and the dolmens are clearly visible while approaching from Samalpallam on the NH 7 highway (if you get to Samalpallam from Bangalore - as I did - turn left at the village). Park the car... Read More |
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| Halebidu | Ancient Temple | India | Visited | 17th Jul 2015 | 4 | 4 | 5 | ||||
| Sravanabelagola | Ancient Temple | India | Visited | 17th Jul 2015 | 4 | 5 | 4 | The temple is located on a hill and requires a 15 minute climb - barefoot - on stone steps. | |||
| Qutab Minar Complex | Ancient Temple | India | Visited | 20th Jul 2015 | 4 | 3 | 5 | ||||
| Camp Celtique de la Bure | Ancient Village or Settlement | France | Alsace-Lorraine:Vosges (88) | Visited | 17th Apr 2013 | 3 | 4 | 3 | The site is located on top of a hill. You need to leave the car by the roadside and hike uphill a short trail. Once there you will find petroglyphs and ruins of an ancient Celtic settlement. | ||
| Dolmen de Purifaing | Burial Chamber or Dolmen | France | Alsace-Lorraine:Vosges (88) | Visited | 16th Apr 2013 | 3 | 3 | 4 | Requires to venture deep in the forest. Fortunately the road is paved. Be sure to ask locals for directions as there are many dirt roads to choose from. | ||
| Pierre Borne (Bertrichamps) | Standing Stone (Menhir) | France | Alsace-Lorraine:Meurthe-et-Moselle | Visited | 17th Apr 2013 | 4 | 3 | 4 | |||
| Appenthal Menhirs | Stone Row / Alignment | France | Alsace-Lorraine:Haut-Rhin (68) | Visited | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||||
| Langenstein de Dorlisheim | Standing Stone (Menhir) | France | Alsace-Lorraine:Bas-Rhin (67) | Visited | 10th Apr 2013 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |||
| Sattelfelsen | Standing Stone (Menhir) | France | Alsace-Lorraine:Bas-Rhin (67) | Visited | 1st Apr 2013 | 4 | 3 | 4 | There are other smaller menhirs nearby. Take your time and explore a bit the surroundings. | ||
| Les Bornes Saint-Martin | Standing Stone (Menhir) | France | Alsace-Lorraine:Bas-Rhin (67) | Visited | 1st Apr 2013 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |||
| Avebury | Stone Circle | England | Wiltshire | Visited | 3rd May 2013 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Not as popular as Stonehenge but by far more complex. You have earth mounds, earth pyramids, passage graves, stone avenues, and yes stone circles. | ||
| Stonehenge. | Stone Circle | England | Wiltshire | Visited | 2nd May 2013 | 5 | 5 | 5 | Breathtaking place! The stones are amazing and seeing them live is a unique experience. | ||
| Three Men of Gardoms | Round Barrow(s) | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 19th Mar 2022 | 4 | 5 | 3 | |||
| Gardoms Edge 1 | Rock Art | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 19th Mar 2022 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Gardoms Edge 2 (Baslow) | Rock Art | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 19th Mar 2022 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Gardoms Edge Stone | Standing Stone (Menhir) | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 19th Mar 2022 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Gardoms Edge Enclosure | Causewayed Enclosure | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 19th Mar 2022 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |||
| Barbrook 5 | Ring Cairn | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 19th Mar 2022 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Swine Sty | Ancient Village or Settlement | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 19th Mar 2022 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Bamford Moor South | Stone Circle | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 1st Apr 2021 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||
| The Old Woman Stone | Standing Stone (Menhir) | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 1st Apr 2021 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Stone on Bamford Moor | Standing Stone (Menhir) | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 1st Apr 2021 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Seven Stones Of Hordron | Stone Circle | England | Derbyshire | Visited | 1st Feb 2022 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Ahu Akivi | Sculptured Stone | Easter Island | Visited | 21st Mar 2015 | 4 | 5 | 4 | I have visited this place to experience the sunset during the Fall equinox. The scenery is gorgeous with the Sun setting in front of the Moai statues. It is also a perfect spot for taking night sky pictures. |