It's German, but shouldn't matter much in th days of AI.
ChatGPT anwsers to some questions brought up here based on the NZZ article:
1. The "Desert Kites" or stone structures were dated using two methods. The researchers used Carbon-14 (C14) dating on charcoal samples found near the structures. Carbon-14 dating can only be used on once-living material like wood or bone, hence its use on the charcoal. They also used a technique called Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL), which measures the last time sand grains were exposed to sunlight, based on the accumulation of electrons in their crystal structure. These two techniques revealed that the structures are between 7560 and 9000 years old.
2. Your instinct aligns with the interpretations of the researchers. The article suggests that the rock carvings depicting these structures may have been created after their construction rather than as blueprints. One reason for this is that the physical structures follow topography, incorporating or based on terrain features which are not reflected in the plans. The researchers propose that these drawings could have been used for hunting planning, demonstrating attributes of the structures that aren't noticeable from ground level. Also, they argue these drawings could serve as a demonstration of knowledge, the ability to depict spatial elements, and the act of transmitting this knowledge. The idea that these could be plans created before construction is less likely but not entirely dismissed.