Journal of Astrobiology, 16, 2025
JournalOfAstrobiology.com 52 Square-Shaped Structure Mars
Mars: Geological Formation or Archaeology? Square-shaped Structure Within
an Arabia Terra Crater?
George J. Haas1 , William R. Saunders2 , and Robert M. Schoch3
1The Cydonia Institute, PO Box 102, Purcellville, VA, USA; thecydoniainstitute@hotmail.com
2412 – 3311 Wilson St. Penticton, B.C., Canada; bsaunders169@gmail.com
3Boston University, College of General Studies, Boston, MA, USA; schoch@bu.edu

ABSTRACT
 An examination of a square-shaped structure within a crater in the Arabia Terra region of Mars is
undertaken. Supportive images are provided by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Mars Global
Surveyor and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecrafts. The images reveal the remains of a set of possible linear walls with 90-degree angles (as best as can be determined) at their corners that exhibit a high level of symmetry. The hypothesis of artificial design is presented based on an examination of possible artificial and natural mechanisms that could contribute to the structure of the features observed.

Terrestrial comparisons of geological structures and geometrical designs are investigated. Further study and additional imaging of the structural components of this enigmatic feature are encouraged.
Keywords: Mars; Arabia Terra; square; walls; foundation; mounds; Mars Global Surveyor; Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter; Masada; White City; life on Mars; Anomalous Formations on Mars

1. 1. Introduction
2. A Mars Global Surveyor image depicting a square-shaped structure (also referred to in the popular
3. press as a “square-shaped formation”) was brought to the attention of the first two authors in 2001 by independent researcher Richard C. Hoagland via his Enterprise Mission website (https://
4. www.enterprisemission.org/). This square structure has generated a high level of interest and has been featured in numerous online news programs; however no serious scientific assessment has been offered until now.
5. 2. The Square-shaped Structure (Mars Global Surveyor)
6. In November 2001 NASA released an image acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)
7. camera E10/00462. The image was taken in the winter, during the early morning hours with a resolution
8. of 6.3 meters per pixel (Mars Viewer, MGS, 2001). The original orientation of the image was inverted,
9. with south toward the top; it shows exposed material within a crater that includes a feature that appears to
10. be square-shaped structure (Figure 1). The square-shape is offset with opposite corners aligned in a north
11. south direction. The northern corner of the formation consists of an L-shaped wall-like structure that is
12. partially buried by debris. The western and southern corners are visible, while the eastern corner appears
13. to be covered by fine-grained deposits in this image; the western corner also appears to be covered to
14. some extent with fine-grained deposits (note that “fine-grained” is a relative term in this context, given
15. the resolution of 6.3 meters per pixel). A detail of the area is provided in figure 2, showing the outline of
16. the square-shaped walls and linear impression.

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