Crop circles
This is a term used to describe huge, complex and beautiful patterns that appear, literally overnight, in fields of crops such as wheat, barley, rye and corn all over the world. Around 250 crop designs around the world appear each year on average with the most frequent and complex designs appearing in Britain.
Where are they?
Crop circles are a global phenomenon, but mostly appear in the Northern Hemisphere. Southern England, particularly Wiltshire, Hampshire and Sussex, is the centre of worldwide activity and sees the most frequent and spectacular designs. Europe’s largest stone circle at Avebury appears to be the epicentre. Each summer a whole array of incredible formations can be seen in the area.
What are they?
Over the decades people have come up with all sorts of ideas as to how crop circles are formed. Some conclude they are simply the work of eccentric humans, others suggest they are the result of freak weather phenomena, while many believe they are the result of paranormal activity such as UFOs or other mystical forces.
Many circles are known to be man-made and there are even clubs devoted to crop circle creators, but there has always been a large proportion of circles that cannot simply be dismissed as the work of humans. And it is these circles, these spectacular yet unexplainable creations that capture our minds and beggar the question: “who or what created them?”
Crop circle designs
The first documented circle back in the 1970s were usually simple circular patterns. But over the decade the designs have evermore elaborate and complex geometric patterns have emerged. Between 1970 and 2000, patterns seemed to be based on sacred geometry. Those forming after 2000 appear to be based on other principles, natural sciences and mathematic designs including fractals.
Many crop circles now have fine intricate detail, regular symmetry and careful composition. Elements of three-dimensionality have become more frequent, culminating in spectacular images of cube-shaped structures.
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