Google Earth
Medicine Indian Head
By Dennis Begin
Geomorphology is the study of the physical features of the earth and its relation to its geological structure. A unique example of a geomorphic feature or geoglyph is the Badlands Guardian, also called the Medicine Indian Head. This geoglyph is located 62 km east of Medicine Hat, Alberta, near the village of Walsh. It is a geological marvel, approximately one half km across, facing west and can only be seen from the air. The geoglyph appears to form a perfect head of an Indian wearing a traditional headdress. The geoglyph was first discovered in 2006 by Lynn Hickox, while using Google Earth. Local residents of Walsh were not even aware of its presence.
The geoglyph was formed over millions of years through natural erosion and weathering. The softer soil was washed away by the rain and wind, forming a geoglyph shape like a human head. From the air, the Medicine Indian Head may appear to be convex in shape, but it is really concave, forming a natural drainage basin. Inside the drainage basin, there is no indication that the surrounding hills form a geoglyph. In the photo, what looks to be earphones is really a road with an oil well located near the ear.
The word ‘patternicity’ is defined as the tendency to find meaningful patterns from meaningless data. You be the judge about the Medicine Indian Head.