An Artificial Mound?

A Strange Mound on Mars

Any one of the three unusual formations on Mars would make one stop for a moment and wonder whether natural forces could explain them. When all three very different formations occur together, it lends a great deal of credence to the the artificiality hypothesis which has been suggested for a number of other formations in this same region of Mars.

The horseshoe shaped depression at the top of the photo is probably the least remarkable of the the three, but it seems tied somehow to the strange mound that appears to have a triangular facet and is roughly bisymmetrical. Not far from the mound is a nearly hexagonal platform which seems very difficult to explain as a natural phenomonen. Actually, the simplest explanation is that these features were built and designed by some intelligent life form and are now eroded and decayed. However, this does not fit well with what we think we know about Mars and natural processes can form many unusual features. How can one judge what might be the truth here? What do you think formed the features in this photograph?

It should be noted that the mound above was seen on the low resolution Viking photos and along with other similar mounds in this area was descibed as being part of a geometric pattern, that suggested an artificial design. The higher resolution photo above provided more detail and instead of debunking the artificiality hypothesis, it seems to support it.