— Artifact
— Cycle 16, Phase 421, Segment 892, Beat 17
— γ04-σ07-π04-δ01
This specimen is a fragmented marble sculpture, retrieved from the remnants of a once-structured moon that held signs of a now-extinct civilization, which reached its zenith during Cycle 16. The fragment appears to represent a female figure, its proportions idealized, echoing the aesthetic norms of high-form ritualistic art. The torso is broken at the waist.
Fractures indicate the sculpture endured both natural erosion and violent destruction—perhaps symbolic iconoclasm during societal collapse. Intriguingly, trace mineral deposits embedded in the marble suggest it had been exposed to atmospheric conditions no longer present in its recovery site, implying its surroundings changed drastically during or after its abandonment.
The style and craftsmanship bear resemblance to known human artifacts from Earth (γ04-σ09-π03), yet certain geometric engravings along the ribcage suggest a localized symbolic system unique to its culture. These markings may denote rank, divinity, or memory encoding—though the exact significance remains speculative.
Addendum // Segment Analysis //
Arkhorin’s Codex cross-referenced this specimen with visual patterns retrieved from other Cycle 16 data clusters. A faint but persistent pattern emerges—certain civilizations across disparate systems appear to have shared an uncanny resemblance in their artistic depiction of the human form. Whether this reflects a shared ancestry, convergent cultural evolution, or interference from an unknown vector remains unknown.
Further probes are being calibrated to explore γ04’s remaining planetary bodies. The retrieval team hypothesizes this statue may have stood in a ceremonial chamber or temple now lost to entropy.
