Difference between revisions of "Crop circle" - New World Encyclopedia

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|Topicheading= Crop circle
 
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'''Crop circles''' is a term used for a phenomenon where [[Crop (agriculture)|crops]], such as [[wheat]], [[barley]], [[rapeseed]] (also called "canola"), [[rye]], [[maize|corn]], [[linseed]] and [[soy]] are flattened or bent low on their stalks, producing circular and other patterns when viewed from the air. Crop circles were first reported during the later decades of the twentieth century in a few crop fields, but since have become a worldwide phenomenon.
 
'''Crop circles''' is a term used for a phenomenon where [[Crop (agriculture)|crops]], such as [[wheat]], [[barley]], [[rapeseed]] (also called "canola"), [[rye]], [[maize|corn]], [[linseed]] and [[soy]] are flattened or bent low on their stalks, producing circular and other patterns when viewed from the air. Crop circles were first reported during the later decades of the twentieth century in a few crop fields, but since have become a worldwide phenomenon.
 
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Various hypotheses have been offered to explain their formation, ranging from the [[scientific naturalism|naturalistic]], and hoaxes, to the [[paranormal]]. Most commonly, crop circles are connected to [[UFO]]s and beliefs in [[Extraterrestrial life]], as many claim they are communications from aliens.
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Various hypotheses have been offered to explain their formation, ranging from the [[scientific naturalism|naturalistic]], and hoaxes, to the [[paranormal]]. Most commonly, crop circles are connected to [[UFO]]s and beliefs in [[extraterrestrial life]], with claims that they are communications from aliens. While many have been proved hoaxes, crop circles have continued to appear and both the general public and scientific researchers have continued to be fascinated by the phenomenon. Like other such mysteries, there are those who believe they originate in a realm beyond the known physical world and there are those who reject such possibilities. This clash between those who are [[skepticism|skeptical]] and those who are open to the unknown reflects human desire to pursue [[truth]] and at the same time the problem of ignorance and confusion regarding how to discover and recognize truth.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
While crop circles did not become a widespread phenomenon garnering worldwide interest until the late twentieth century, there are some who claim that crop circles have been happening for centuries, particularly in Europe. Some claim that the earliest account of a crop circle is found in a seventeenth century English [[woodcut]] called the ''[[Mowing-Devil]]''. The image depicts the [[Devil]] with a [[scythe]] mowing (cutting) a circular design in a field of [[oats]]. The [[pamphlet]] containing the image states that the farmer, disgusted at the wage his mower was demanding for his work, insisted that he would rather have "the devil himself" perform the task. According to the pamphlet, that night his field appeared to be in flame. The next morning, the field was found to be perfectly mowed—unnaturally perfect, in fact.<ref>  
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Crop circles did not become a widespread phenomenon garnering worldwide interest until the late twentieth century. However, there are some who claim that crop circles have been appearing for centuries, particularly in [[Europe]]. The earliest account of what has been suggested to be a crop circle may be found in a seventeenth-century English [[woodcut]] called the ''[[Mowing-Devil]]''. The image depicts the [[Devil]] with a [[scythe]] mowing (cutting) a circular design in a field of [[oats]]. The [[pamphlet]] containing the image states that the farmer, disgusted at the wage his mower was demanding for his work, insisted that he would rather have "the devil himself" perform the task. According to the pamphlet, that night his field appeared to be in flame. The next morning, the field was found to be perfectly mowed—unnaturally perfect, in fact.<ref>  
 
Andy Thomas, [http://www.swirlednews.com/article.asp?artID=844 "The 'Mowing Devil' Investigated,"] ''Swirled News'', 2001. Retrieved January 4, 2008</ref>  
 
Andy Thomas, [http://www.swirlednews.com/article.asp?artID=844 "The 'Mowing Devil' Investigated,"] ''Swirled News'', 2001. Retrieved January 4, 2008</ref>  
 
[[Image:Diablefaucheur.jpg|thumb|1678 pamphlet on the Mowing-Devil.]]
 
[[Image:Diablefaucheur.jpg|thumb|1678 pamphlet on the Mowing-Devil.]]
Others point to an 1880 report of crop circles that described the investigations by amateur scientist John Rand Capron:
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Another early example of crop circles is the 1880 report by amateur scientist John Rand Capron:
 
<blockquote>The storms about this part of Surrey have been lately local and violent, and the effects produced in some instances curious. Visiting a neighbour's farm on Wednesday evening (21st), we found a field of standing wheat considerably knocked about, not as an entirety, but in patches forming, as viewed from a distance, circular spots....I could not trace locally any circumstances accounting for the peculiar forms of the patches in the field, nor indicating whether it was wind or rain, or both combined, which had caused them, beyond the general evidence everywhere of heavy rainfall. They were suggestive to me of some cyclonic wind action.<ref name=JofMeteorology>John Rand Capron, "A case of genuine crop circles dating from July 1880," ''Journal of Meteorology'' 25 (2000): 20-21. {{ISSN|0307-5966}} (original ''Nature'' 22 (July 1880): 290-291).</ref></blockquote>  
 
<blockquote>The storms about this part of Surrey have been lately local and violent, and the effects produced in some instances curious. Visiting a neighbour's farm on Wednesday evening (21st), we found a field of standing wheat considerably knocked about, not as an entirety, but in patches forming, as viewed from a distance, circular spots....I could not trace locally any circumstances accounting for the peculiar forms of the patches in the field, nor indicating whether it was wind or rain, or both combined, which had caused them, beyond the general evidence everywhere of heavy rainfall. They were suggestive to me of some cyclonic wind action.<ref name=JofMeteorology>John Rand Capron, "A case of genuine crop circles dating from July 1880," ''Journal of Meteorology'' 25 (2000): 20-21. {{ISSN|0307-5966}} (original ''Nature'' 22 (July 1880): 290-291).</ref></blockquote>  
  
In 1966, one of the most famous accounts of [[UFO]] traces happened in the small town of [[Tully, Queensland]], [[Australia]]. A [[sugar cane]] farmer said he witnessed a saucer-shaped craft rise 30 or {{convert|40|ft|m}} up from a [[swamp]] and then fly away, and when he went to investigate the location where he thought the saucer had landed, he found the reeds intricately weaved in a clockwise fashion on top of the water. The woven reeds could hold the weight of 10 men.<ref name=casebook>[http://www.ufocasebook.com/tullysaucernest.html"The Tully Saucer Nest"] UFO Casebook, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref> The incident gained a lot of attention first in Australia, and then later in the world, albeit short lived. It is also possibly the reason that many of the subsequent crop circles were linked to the UFO activity.<ref name=casebook/>
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In 1966, one of the most famous accounts of [[UFO]] appearances was reported in the small town of [[Tully, Queensland]], [[Australia]]. A [[sugar cane]] farmer said he witnessed a saucer-shaped craft rise 30 or {{convert|40|ft|m}} up from a [[swamp]] and then fly away. When he went to investigate the location where he thought the saucer had landed, he found the reeds intricately weaved in a clockwise fashion on top of the water. The woven reeds could hold the weight of 10 men.<ref name=casebook>[http://www.ufocasebook.com/tullysaucernest.html"The Tully Saucer Nest"] UFO Casebook, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref> The incident gained a lot of attention first in Australia, and then later in the world, albeit short lived. It is possibly the reason that many of the subsequent instances of crop circles were linked to UFO activity.<ref name=casebook/>
  
Crop circles started to appear throughout the English countryside in the 1970s, and became even more frequent in the 1980s. At first the designs were uncomplicated circles, or variants of circles, but as the frequency of the phenomena increased throughout the 1980s, so did their complexity. In Great Britain, a reported 400 new crop circles were discovered in 1990, considered a peak year for the incidents. Designs discovered at [[Barbary Castle]] were some of the largest and most geometrically complex figures seen to date.<ref> David Ritchie, ''UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena'' (MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004)</ref> The frequency and complexity of the crop circles, as well as the mystery surrounding their creation, helped to gain the attention by the [[mass media|media]]. Not long afterwards, crop circles began to show up in other countries, such as the former [[Soviet Union]] and [[Japan]], as well as the [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Canada]].  
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Crop circles started to appear throughout the English countryside in the 1970s, and became even more frequent in the 1980s. At first the designs were uncomplicated circles, or variants of circles, but as the frequency of the phenomena increased throughout the 1980s, so did their complexity. In Great Britain a reported 400 new crop circles were discovered in 1990, considered a peak year for the incidents. Designs discovered at [[Barbary Castle]] were some of the largest and most geometrically complex reported.<ref> David Ritchie, ''UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena'' (MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004)</ref> The frequency and complexity of the crop circles, as well as the mystery surrounding their creation, helped to gain the attention of the [[mass media|media]]. Not long afterwards, crop circles began to show up in other countries, such as the former [[Soviet Union]] and [[Japan]], as well as the [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Canada]].  
  
Widespread media coverage of crop circles, coupled with the revealing of some very complex and famous circles being the products of hoaxes dulled the widespread intrigue of crop circles worldwide although there are many committed investigators and researchers devoted to the study of the phenomena. Like many aspects of the [[occult]] and [[paranormal]], crop circles soon quickly became incorporated and in a fashion exploited by pop culture. An example of this is the occasional profit made from circle incidents. Although some farmers expressed concern at the damage caused to their crops, local response to the appearance of crop circles can often be enthusiastic, with locals taking advantage of the tourist potential of circles. Past responses have included bus or [[helicopter]] tours of circle sites, walking tours, t-shirts and book sales. Potential markets include curious tourists, scientists, and crop circle researchers, and individuals seeking a spiritual experience by praying to and communing with spirits.<ref name=mayell> Hillary Mayell, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0801_020801_cropcircles_2.html "Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?"] ''National Geographic'', August 2, 2002. Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref> In 1996, a circle appeared near [[Stonehenge]], and the farmer set up a booth and charged a fee. He collected £30,000 in four weeks. The value of the crop had it been harvested was probably about £150.<ref name=mayell/>
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Like many aspects of the [[occult]] and [[paranormal]], crop circles soon became incorporated and exploited by pop culture. An example of this is the occasional profit made from circle incidents. Although some farmers expressed concern at the damage caused to their crops, local response to the appearance of crop circles can often be enthusiastic, with locals taking advantage of the tourist potential of circles. Past responses have included bus or [[helicopter]] tours of circle sites, walking tours, t-shirts and book sales. Potential markets include curious tourists, scientists, and crop circle researchers, and individuals seeking a spiritual experience by communing with spirits.<ref name=mayell> Hillary Mayell, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0801_020801_cropcircles_2.html "Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?"] ''National Geographic'', August 2, 2002. Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref> In 1996, a circle appeared near [[Stonehenge]], and the farmer set up a booth and charged a fee. He collected £30,000 in four weeks. The value of the crop had it been harvested was probably about £150.<ref name=mayell/>
  
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Widespread media coverage of crop circles, coupled with the revealing of some very complex and famous circles being the products of hoaxes, dulled the widespread intrigue of crop circles. Nevertheless, many committed researchers continue to be devoted to their study.
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==Designs==
 
==Designs==
[[Image:MadinsonvilleCropCircle.jpg|thumb|Wheat pattern about {{convert|150|ft|m}} in diameter with crop laid down in counterclockwise circles discovered on May 14, 2007, by Monroe County, Tennessee Sheriff's Department Patrol Captain Bryan Graves while flying. First aerial photographs on Tuesday, May 22, 2007]]
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[[Image:MadinsonvilleCropCircle.jpg|thumb|Wheat pattern about {{convert|150|ft|m}} in diameter with crop laid down in counterclockwise circles discovered on May 14, 2007, by Monroe County, [[Tennessee]] Sheriff's Department Patrol Captain Bryan Graves while flying. First aerial photographs on Tuesday, May 22, 2007]]
  
Early examples of crop circles were usually simple circular patterns of various sizes. After some years, more complex geometric patterns emerged. In general, the early formations (1970–2000) seemed to be based on the principles of [[sacred geometry]]. Later formations, those occurring after 2000, appear to be based on other principles, natural sciences and mathematics designs, including [[fractal]]s. Many crop circles now have fine intricate detail, regular symmetry, and careful composition. Elements of three-dimensionality became more frequent, culminating in spectacular images of cube-shaped structures.
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Early examples of crop circles were usually simple circular patterns of various sizes. Later, more complex geometric patterns emerged. In general, the early formations (1970–2000) seemed to be based on the principles of [[sacred geometry]]. Later formations, those occurring after 2000, appear to be based on other principles, natural sciences and mathematics designs, including [[fractal]]s. Many crop circles have fine intricate detail, regular symmetry, and careful composition. Elements of three-dimensionality became more frequent, culminating in spectacular images of cube-shaped structures.
  
 
==Explanations==
 
==Explanations==
===Hoaxes/Man Made===
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===Hoaxes/Man-made===
 
[[Image:Crop_circles_Swirl.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A crop circle in the form of a double (six-sided) Triskelion composed of Circles.]]
 
[[Image:Crop_circles_Swirl.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A crop circle in the form of a double (six-sided) Triskelion composed of Circles.]]
Since nearly the beginning of the crop circle phenomenon, there have been many who have claimed that the designs were hoaxes. One of the most famous examples happened in 1991, when two men from [[Southampton]], [[England]] announced that they had conceived the idea of crop circles as a prank at a [[Public house|pub]] near [[Winchester|Winchester, Hampshire]] during an evening in 1976. Inspired by the 1966 Tully Saucer Nests, Doug Bower and Dave Chorley made their crop circles using planks, rope, hats, and wire as their only tools: using a four-foot-long plank attached to a rope, they easily created circles eight feet in diameter.<ref name=ufos>[http://ufologie.net/htm/cropbower01.htm "Doug Bower Interview: How It All Started"] UFOs Up-Close, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2008</ref> The two men were able to make a {{convert|40|ft|m|0|sing=on}} circle in 15 minutes. The pair became frustrated when their work did not receive significant [[publicity]], so in 1981 they created a circle in Matterley Bowl, a natural [[amphitheatre]] just outside [[Winchester|Winchester, Hampshire]] - an area surrounded by roads from which a clear view of the field is available to drivers passing by. Their designs were at first simple circles. When newspapers claimed that the circles could easily be explained by natural phenomena, Bower and Chorley made more [[Complexity|complex]] patterns. A simple wire with a loop, hanging down from a cap - the loop positioned over one eye - could be used to focus on a landmark to aid in the creation of straight lines. Later designs of crop circles became increasingly complicated.<ref name=ufos/> Bower's wife had become suspicious of him, noticing high levels of mileage in their car. Eventually, fearing that his wife suspected him of [[adultery]], Bower confessed to her and subsequently he and Chorley informed a [[Great Britain|British]] national newspaper. Chorley died in 1996, and Doug Bower continued making crop circles until at least 2004.  
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Since nearly the beginning of the crop circle phenomenon, there have been many who claimed that the designs were hoaxes. One of the most famous examples happened in 1991, when two men from [[Southampton]], [[England]] announced that they had conceived the idea of crop circles as a prank at a [[Public house|pub]] near [[Winchester|Winchester, Hampshire]] during an evening in 1976. Inspired by the 1966 Tully Saucer Nests, Doug Bower and Dave Chorley made their crop circles using planks, rope, hats, and wire as their only tools: using a four-foot-long plank attached to a rope, they easily created circles eight feet in diameter.<ref name=ufos>[http://ufologie.net/htm/cropbower01.htm "Doug Bower Interview: How It All Started"] UFOs Up-Close, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2008</ref> The two men were able to make a {{convert|40|ft|m|0|sing=on}} circle in 15 minutes. The pair became frustrated when their work did not receive significant [[publicity]], and so in 1981 they created a circle in Matterley Bowl, a natural [[amphitheatre]] just outside Winchester, Hampshire—an area surrounded by roads from which a clear view of the field is available to drivers passing by. Their designs were at first simple circles. When newspapers claimed that the circles could easily be explained by natural phenomena, Bower and Chorley made more [[Complexity|complex]] patterns. A simple wire with a loop, hanging down from a cap—the loop positioned over one eye—could be used to focus on a landmark to aid in the creation of straight lines. Later designs of crop circles became increasingly complicated.<ref name=ufos/> Eventually Bower's wife became suspicious, noticing high levels of mileage in their car. Fearing that his wife suspected him of [[adultery]], Bower confessed to her and subsequently he and Chorley informed a [[Great Britain|British]] national newspaper. Chorley died in 1996, but Doug Bower continued making crop circles until at least 2004.  
  
Crop Circle hoaxes and techniques have become widespread knowledge since the end of the twentieth century. In 2002, ''Scientific American'' published an article by [[Matt Ridley]], who started making crop circles in northern England in 1991.<ref name="Ridley">Matt Ridley, [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=00038B16-ED5F-1D29-97CA809EC588EEDF "Crop Circle Confession,"] ''Scientific American'', July, 2002. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref> He wrote about how easy it is to develop techniques using simple tools that can easily fool later observers. He reported on "expert" sources such as the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' who had been easily fooled. Methods to create a crop circle are now well-documented on the [[Internet]]. One internet group of crop circle makers founded by [[John Lundberg]]
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Crop Circle hoaxes and techniques became widespread knowledge by the end of the twentieth century. In 2002, ''Scientific American'' published an article by [[Matt Ridley]], who had started making crop circles in northern England in 1991.<ref name="Ridley">Matt Ridley, [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=00038B16-ED5F-1D29-97CA809EC588EEDF "Crop Circle Confession,"] ''Scientific American'', July, 2002. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref> He wrote about how easy it is to develop techniques using simple tools that can easily fool later observers. Methods to create a crop circle are now well-documented on the [[Internet]]. One internet group of crop circle makers demonstrated that making what self-appointed [[cereology|cereologist]] experts state are "unfakeable" crop circles is possible. On more than one occasion cereologists claimed that a crop circle was genuine when the people making the circle had previously been filmed making it.<ref name=Macnish>John Macnish, ''Cropcircle Apocalypse'' (Circlevision, 1993, ISBN 095225803X).</ref>
[http://circlemakers.org Circlemakers.org], have demonstrated that making what self-appointed [[cereology|cereologist]] experts state are "unfakeable" crop circles is possible. On more than one occasion such cereologists have claimed that a crop circle was genuine when the people making the circle had previously been filmed making the circle.<ref name=Macnish>John Macnish, ''Cropcircle Apocalypse'' (Circlevision, 1993, ISBN 095225803X).</ref>
 
  
 
[[Image:CropCircleW.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Crop circle in Switzerland]]
 
[[Image:CropCircleW.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Crop circle in Switzerland]]
  
Not everybody accepts that circles are man-made, believing instead that many designs are too perfect and that they lack signs of human interaction. Among these critics was British born astronomer [[Gerald Hawkins]] who, prior to his death, argued that some circles displayed a level of complexity and accuracy that would be difficult to recreate on paper, let alone in a field after dark.<ref>[http://home.clara.net/lovely/hawkins.html"Gerald Hawkins work on crop circles and their relationship to Euclidean geometry and and diatonic ratios,"] The Crop Circular, Cropcirclesecrets.org, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2009</ref> In response, circle creating groups and proponents of the man-made hypothesis state that it is possible to create a complex design by marking radii and angles with rope, and to enter and to move about a field using landscape features and tractor trails in order to avoid leaving other marks.<ref name= csicop/>  
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Not everybody accepts that crop circles are man-made, however, believing instead that many designs are too perfect and that they lack signs of human interaction. Among these critics was British born astronomer [[Gerald Hawkins]] who, prior to his death, argued that some circles displayed a level of complexity and accuracy that would be difficult to recreate on paper, let alone in a field after dark.<ref>[http://home.clara.net/lovely/hawkins.html"Gerald Hawkins work on crop circles and their relationship to Euclidean geometry and and diatonic ratios,"] The Crop Circular, Cropcirclesecrets.org, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2009</ref> In response, circle creating groups and proponents of the man-made hypothesis have claimed that it is possible to create a complex design by marking radii and angles with rope, and to enter and to move about a field using landscape features and tractor trails in order to avoid leaving other marks.<ref name= csicop/>  
  
Critics have cited what they refer to as the 'shyness factor'. This alludes to the fact that no crop circle makers have been caught in the act. This assertion is not true however, and there are cases of circle makers being apprehended, including one high-profile case in 1998 when a circle was made for the media and the makers interrupted when seen in the act. In most cases, it appears that the creation of crop circles is a [[night|nocturnal]] activity. Usually nothing is reported, and during one attempt to observe the creation of a crop circle, numerous individuals witnessed nothing out of the ordinary, yet were astounded to see a crop circle in the field {{convert|500|yd|m|-2}} away from the one they had been watching the next morning.<ref name= csicop/>
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One issue is that despite the appearance of numerous crop circles, those making them are almost never caught in the act. In most cases that the creation of crop circles is a [[night|nocturnal]] activity, making it difficult to observe their construction. During one attempt to observe the creation of a crop circle, numerous individuals witnessed nothing out of the ordinary, yet were astounded the next morning to see a crop circle in a field {{convert|500|yd}} away from the one they had been watching all night.<ref name= csicop/>
  
 
===Paranormal===
 
===Paranormal===
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Since appearing in the media in the 1970s, crop circles have become the subject of various [[paranormal]] and fringe beliefs, the most popular being that they represent messages from extraterrestrials.<ref>Robert Carroll, ''Skeptics Dictionary: Crop Circles'' (Wiley, 2005, ISBN 0471272426).</ref> UFOs and other lights in the sky have been reported in connection with many crop circle sites, leading to them becoming associated with UFOs and aliens. Some people claim to have seen images of UFOs forming crop circles or flying over them, though photographs have been dismissed by skeptics as being indistinct or clearly hoaxes.<ref name= csicop/>
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Other features of crop circles that have suggested to some that some circles were not formed by simple man-made devices include [[Static electricity|electro-static charge]] measurements that show a clear difference between the inside and outside of the circle. Some crop circles showed this difference while others did not, a distinction that appeared to correlate well with known hoaxes versus possible true examples:
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<blockquote>The gadget indicated electrical current flow in plants and living matter, including humans. However, in 'genuine' Corn Circles (as opposed to human made ones) there was a complete lack of energy almost as if whatever was making the corn circles had 'earthed' them.<ref>Paul Vigay, [http://www.cropcircleresearch.com/articles/e001-gizmo.html "Enigma Issue 1: Electro-Static Charge Indications,"], Crop Circle Research, 1993. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref></blockquote>
  
Since appearing in the media in the 1970s, crop circles have become the subject of various paranormal and fringe beliefs, the most popular being  that they represent messages from extraterrestrials.<ref>Robert Carroll, ''Skeptics Dictionary: Crop Circles'' (Wiley, 2005, ISBN 0471272426).</ref>UFOs and other lights in the sky have been reported in connection with many crop circle sites, leading to them becoming associated with UFOs and aliens. Some people claim to have seen images of UFOs forming crop circles or overflying them, though photographs have been dismissed by skeptics as being indistinct or clear hoaxes.<ref name= csicop/> Most often, circumstantial evidence is used as justification for the UFO theory: the designs are created at night, usually without eyewitnesses because of the stealth nature of the creation; the designs at times are large, geometrical shapes and designs that may (or may not) have mathematical significance; and most importantly, crop circles are best seen from above the ground, such as in an airplane, implying that an airborne device was used to create it. Such logic, however, is often used to fill in the gaps left by little physical evidence of UFOs as the crop circle culprits.
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In addition to the static electricity effect, a variety of unexplained, sometimes musical, sounds have been heard in the vicinity of crop circles.<ref> Paul Vigay, [http://www.cropcircleresearch.com/articles/sound.html Crop Circle Research Projects into Sound and Harmonics], Crop Circle Research, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref> An example was reported by [[Colin Andrews]] of a number of short bursts of oscillating tones recorded on audio tape during "Operation White Crow." This was an investigation that took place at a location known as the "Devil's Punchbowl" at Cheesefoot Head, near Winchester in Hampshire, in the summer of 1989. During a break in their surveillance operations, a group gathered in one of the crop circles when they heard an unexpected sound which their equipment recorded: 
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<blockquote>Suddenly, we all heard a sound from the east. As we listened, it grew louder and we could sense it getting closer. It was definitely directional, in that we could all tell precisely where it was coming from, and we could follow it as it moved. The sound then rotated around us, floating around the circle three or four times, like an auditory cloud that passed above us in a circle. And again, it was directional: As it moved in its orbit around us, we could follow it with our ears, and if it had been visible, we all felt we would have been able to track it from point to point around the circle. First it was in our left ear, then behind us, then in our right ear. ... In the exact direction the sound seemed to travel to when it left us was a fresh crop ring. The plants were still popping up, and still moving, as though a powerful hand had pressed them down, and they were just now springing back up. ... I believed then, as I believe now, that we had inadvertently encroached upon the creation of a crop circle. We had all unwittingly placed ourselves in the middle of a paranormal event.<ref name=andrews/></blockquote>
  
Others see crop circles as a more spiritual matter. The location of many crop circles near ancient sites such as [[Stonehenge]], [[tumulus|barrow]]s, and [[Chalk figures in the United Kingdom|chalk horses]] has led to many [[New Age]] belief-systems incorporating crop circles; Including the beliefs that they are formed in relation to [[ley line]]s and that they give off energy that can be detected through [[dowsing]].<ref name=howarth1>Howarth, Leslie (2000) "If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles," iUniverse, ISBN 0595156932</ref> New Age followers sometimes gather at crop circle sites in order to meditate, or because they believe that they can use the circle in order to contact spirits.<ref name=mayell/>
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Most often, circumstantial evidence is used as justification for the UFO theory: The designs are created at night, usually without eyewitnesses; the designs at times are large, geometrical shapes and designs that may (or may not) have mathematical significance; and most importantly, crop circles are best seen from above the ground, such as in an airplane, implying that an airborne device was used to create it.
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Others see crop circles as a more spiritual matter. The location of many crop circles near ancient sites such as [[Stonehenge]], [[tumulus|barrow]]s, and [[Chalk figures in the United Kingdom|chalk horses]] has led to many [[New Age]] belief-systems incorporating crop circles. This includes the belief that they are formed in relation to [[ley line]]s and that they give off energy that can be detected through [[dowsing]].<ref name=howarth1>Leslie Howarth, ''If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A New Scientific Analysis of UFO Sightings, Alleged Alien Abductions, Animal Mutilations and Crop Circles'' (iUniverse, 2000, ISBN 0595156932)</ref> New Age followers sometimes gather at crop circle sites in order to meditate, or because they believe that they can use the circle in order to contact spirits.<ref name=mayell/>
  
 
=== Naturally Occurring ===
 
=== Naturally Occurring ===
 +
A third possibility that has been set forth is that crop circles are caused by naturally occurring, albeit unusual, [[Meteorology|meteorological]] phenomena. According to material published by the BLT institute, anomalies found at some circle sites in England and the United States are consistent with them having been created when localized columns of ionized air (dubbed plasma vortices/vortexes) form over standing crops.<ref>Eltjo Haselhoff, ''The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles: Scientific Research and Urban Legends'' (Frog Ltd, 2001, ISBN 1583940464). </ref> Minuscule spheres of magnetic iron have also been found, distributed either around the perimeter of the circle, or linearly, which suggests a very complex delivery system. Bent or extended nodes in the stems of cereal grasses too have been found, suggesting that the crop has been subjected to a very rapid [[electromagnetism|electromagnetic]] burst, causing the moisture inside the stems to expand, stretching or bending the nodes to almost three times their length. Holes have been found in the nodes, suggesting a rapid [[microwave]] burst, causing the moisture to turn into steam, which then forces its way out and leaving expulsion cavities.<ref>[http://www.bltresearch.com/magnetic.html"Magnetic Materials in Soils,"] BLT Research Team Inc., 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2009</ref>
  
A third possibility for crop circles occasionally set forth is that they are caused by naturally occurring, albeit unusual, [[Meteorology|meteorological]] phenomena. According to material published by the BLT institute, anomalies found at some circle sites in England and the US are consistent with them having been created when localized columns of ionized air (dubbed plasma vortices/vortexes) form over standing crops.<ref>Eltjo Haselhoff, ''The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles: Scientific Research and Urban Legends'' (Frog Ltd, 2001, ISBN 1583940464). </ref> Minuscule spheres of magnetic iron have also been found, distributed either around the perimeter of the circle, or linearly, which suggests a very complex delivery system.  Bent or extended nodes in the stems of cereal grasses too have been found, suggesting that the crop has been subjected to a very rapid electromagnetic burst, causing the moisture inside the stems to expand, stretching or bending the nodes to almost three times their length. Holes have been found in the nodes, suggesting a rapid microwave burst, causing the moisture to turn into steam, which then forces its way out and leaving expulsion cavities.<ref>[http://www.bltresearch.com/magnetic.html"Magnetic Materials in Soils,"] BLT Research Team Inc., 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2009</ref>
+
Other hypotheses attribute them to atmospheric phenomena such as freak [[tornado]]es or [[ball lightning]].<ref name= csicop> Joe Nickel, [http://www.csicop.org/si/2002-09/crop-circles.html Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light], ''Skeptical Inquirer'' magazine September/October, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2009</ref> Of course, these theories do not readily explain the intricate, precise, and geometrical design of many crop circles.
 
 
Other hypotheses attribute them to atmospheric phenomena such as freak [[tornado]]es or [[ball lightning]].<ref name= csicop> Joe Nickel, [http://www.csicop.org/si/2002-09/crop-circles.html Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light], ''Skeptical Inquirer'' magazine September/October, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2009</ref> Of course, these theories do not explain the intricate, precise and geometrical design of many crop circles.
 
  
 
== Analysis ==
 
== Analysis ==
 +
The main criticism of theories of non-human creation of crop circles is that evidence of these origins, besides eyewitness testimonies, is scant. Crop circles are usually easily explicable as the result of human pranksters. There have also been cases in which researchers declared crop circles to be "the real thing," only to be confronted soon after with the people who created the circle and documented the fraud. Many people have demonstrated how complex crop circles can be created.<ref name="DH73"/><ref name="cm">[http://www.circlemakers.org Circlemakers]. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref>
  
The main criticism of non-human creation of crop circles is that evidence of these origins, besides eyewitness testimonies, is scant. Crop circles are usually easily explicable as the result of human pranksters. There have also been cases in which researchers declared crop circles to be "the real thing," only to be confronted soon after with the people who created the circle and documented the fraud. Many others have demonstrated how complex crop circles are created.<ref name="DH73"/><ref>Roel Van der Meulen, ''Faking UFOs'' (Self Published, 1994).</ref><ref name="cm">[http://www.circlemakers.org Circlemakers]. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref>
+
In his 1997 book ''[[The Demon Haunted World|The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark]]'', [[Carl Sagan]] discussed [[alien]]-based theories of crop circle formation. Sagan concluded that no empirical evidence existed to link [[UFO]]s with crop circles. Specifically, he reported that there were no credible cases of UFOs being observed creating a circle, yet there were many cases when it was known that human agents, such as Doug Bower and Dave Chorley, were responsible.<ref name=DH73>Carl Sagan, ''The Demon Haunted World'' (Ballantine Books, 1997, ISBN 0345409469).</ref>
  
In his 1997 book ''[[The Demon Haunted World|The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark]]'' [[Carl Sagan]] discussed [[alien]]-based theories of crop circle formation. Sagan concluded that no empirical evidence existed to link [[UFO]]s with crop circles. Specifically, he reported that there were no credible cases of UFOs being observed creating a circle, yet there were many cases when it was known that human agents, such as Doug Bower and Dave Chorley, were responsible.<ref name=DH73>Carl Sagan, ''The Demon Haunted World'' (Ballantine Books, 1997, ISBN 0345409469).</ref>
+
In 1999, researcher [[Colin Andrews]] received funding from [[Laurence Rockefeller]] to conduct a two-year investigation into crop circle hoaxing. Andrews put together a team which studied crop circles and infiltrated several groups known to be creating man-made circles. Using these man-made circles as a base, Andrews went on to study data from circles found in England in 1999 and 2000. Andrews concluded that 80 percent of all circles studied showed "unassailable" signs of having been man-made, including post holes used to demarcate circle layouts or evidence of human tracks underlying the circle sites, but could not account for the remaining 20 percent, for which he was unable to find signs of human interaction.<ref name=andrews>Colin Andrews and Stephen J. Spignesi, ''Crop Circles: Signs of Contact'' (New Page Books, 2003, ISBN 156414674X).</ref> Andrews' figures were disputed by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry ([[CSICOP]]), arguing that Andrews' criteria for distinguishing between man-made circles and non man-made circles were insufficient, since no official standard exists for determining the nature of a crop circle.<ref>Joe Nickell, [http://www.csicop.org/sb/9606/crop_circle.html "Levengood's Crop-Circle Plant Research,"] Investigative Files, ''Skeptical Briefs'' newsletter, June 1996. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref>
 
 
In 1999, researcher [[Colin Andrews]] received funding from [[Laurence Rockefeller]] to conduct a two year investigation into crop circle hoaxing. Andrews put together a team which studied crop circles that had been commissioned by various media outlets and infiltrated several groups known to be creating man-made circles. Using these man-made circles as a base, Andrews went on to study data from circles found in England in 1999 and 2000. Andrews concluded that 80 percent of all circles studied showed "unassailable" signs of having been man-made: Including post holes used to demarcate circle layouts or evidence of human tracks underlying the circle sites, but could not account for the remaining 20 percent, for which he was unable to find signs of human interaction.<ref name=spignesi>Stephen J. Spignesi and Colin Andrews, ''Crop Circles: Signs of Contact'' (New Page Books, 2003, ISBN 156414674X), 154.</ref> Andrews' figures were disputed by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry ([[CSICOP]]), who argued that Andrews' criteria for distinguishing between man-made circles and non man-made circles were insufficient, since no official standard exists for determining the nature of a crop circle.<ref>Joe Nickell, [http://www.csicop.org/sb/9606/crop_circle.html "Levengood's Crop-Circle Plant Research,"] Investigative Files, ''Skeptical Briefs'' newsletter, June 1996. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref>
 
  
 
In 2002, [[Freddy Silva]] published ''Secrets in the Fields'', in which he paraphrased Gerald Hawkins' summary:
 
In 2002, [[Freddy Silva]] published ''Secrets in the Fields'', in which he paraphrased Gerald Hawkins' summary:
 
<blockquote>If crop circles are made by hoaxers, then they should stop doing it, because they are breaking the law and damaging the food supply. If they are made by UFO aliens, they shouldn't give us back the dates of our trips to Mars and the names of the men from the Titanic era - famous, clever, but now forgotten. If some are transcendental, the power behind it should realize that our culture is not now willing to accept transcendental happenings. But if they are indeed transcendental, then society will have to make a big adjustment in the years ahead.<ref>Freddy Silva, ''Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles'' (Hampton Roads Publishing Company, 2002, ISBN 1571743227), 299.</ref></blockquote>
 
<blockquote>If crop circles are made by hoaxers, then they should stop doing it, because they are breaking the law and damaging the food supply. If they are made by UFO aliens, they shouldn't give us back the dates of our trips to Mars and the names of the men from the Titanic era - famous, clever, but now forgotten. If some are transcendental, the power behind it should realize that our culture is not now willing to accept transcendental happenings. But if they are indeed transcendental, then society will have to make a big adjustment in the years ahead.<ref>Freddy Silva, ''Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles'' (Hampton Roads Publishing Company, 2002, ISBN 1571743227), 299.</ref></blockquote>
  
Critics have cited what they refer to as the 'shyness factor'. This alludes to the fact that no crop circle makers have been caught in the act. This assertion is not true however, and there are cases of circle makers being apprehended, including one high-profile case in 1998 when a circle was made for the media and the makers interrupted when seen in the act. In most cases, it appears that the creation of crop circles is a [[night|nocturnal]] activity. Usually nothing is reported, and during one attempt to observe the creation of a crop circle, numerous individuals witnessed nothing out of the ordinary, yet were astounded to see a crop circle in the field 500 yards (457.2 m) away from the one they had been watching the next morning.<ref name="csicop"/>
+
Regardless of how many crop circles have been proved hoaxes, their continuing appearance and certain of the phenomena that accompany them prevent a final conclusion on their origin. In fact, whatever their nature, the appearance of these circles and the excitement they generated among both the general public and scientists is a phenomenon in itself:
 
 
Regardless of how many crop circles have been proved hoaxes, their continuing appearance and certain of the phenomena that accompany them prevent a final conclusion on their nature. In fact, whatever their nature, the appearance of these circles and the excitement they generated among both the general public and scientists is a phenomenon in itself:
 
 
<blockquote>Some would argue that crop circles are the greatest mystery of our age. Others dismiss them as the work of pranksters and hoaxers. Some claim that they are a source of enlightenment whilst others are disappointed at the politics they have created. However you view the crop circles, there is no denying that they have had a profound effect on mankind in these latter years of the 20th Century. The crop circles can be viewed as a complete microcosm of human passion and vulnerability. Almost a condensed version of the human race itself, with egos, anger, peace and varying views all expressed by followers.<ref>Paul Vigay, [http://www.cropcircleresearch.com/articles/e017-whats.html Crop Circles - What's it all coming to?] Enigma Issue 17, Crop Circle Research, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2009.</ref></blockquote>
 
<blockquote>Some would argue that crop circles are the greatest mystery of our age. Others dismiss them as the work of pranksters and hoaxers. Some claim that they are a source of enlightenment whilst others are disappointed at the politics they have created. However you view the crop circles, there is no denying that they have had a profound effect on mankind in these latter years of the 20th Century. The crop circles can be viewed as a complete microcosm of human passion and vulnerability. Almost a condensed version of the human race itself, with egos, anger, peace and varying views all expressed by followers.<ref>Paul Vigay, [http://www.cropcircleresearch.com/articles/e017-whats.html Crop Circles - What's it all coming to?] Enigma Issue 17, Crop Circle Research, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2009.</ref></blockquote>
  
Line 87: Line 91:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
* Irving, Robert, and John Lundberg. ''The Field Guide: The Art, History and Philosophy of Crop Circle Making''. Strange Attractor Press, 2006. ISBN 0954805429
+
* Andrews, Colin, and Pat Delgado. ''Circular Evidence: A Detailed Investigation of the Flattened Swirled Crops Phenomenon''. London: Bloomsbury, 1989. ISBN 0747506353
* ''Round in Circles: Physicists, Poltergeists, Pranksters, and the Secret History of the Cropwatchers'', by Jim Schnabel (Penguin 1993). ISBN 0-14-017952-6.
 
* ''Circular Evidence: Bloomsbury, London'' by Colin Andrews and Pat Delgado, 1989, ISBN 0-7475-0635-3.
 
* ''The Hypnotic Power of Crop Circles'', by Bert Janssen, 2004. ISBN 1-931882-34-7
 
 
* Andrews, Colin, and Stephen Spignesi. ''Crop Circles: Signs of Contact''. New Page Books, 2003. ISBN 156414674X
 
* Andrews, Colin, and Stephen Spignesi. ''Crop Circles: Signs of Contact''. New Page Books, 2003. ISBN 156414674X
 +
* Carroll, Robert. ''Skeptics Dictionary: Crop Circles''. Wiley, 2005. ISBN 0471272426
 
* Haselhoff, Eltjo H. ''The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles: Scientific Research and Urban Legends''. Souvenir Press Ltd, 2001. ISBN 0285636251
 
* Haselhoff, Eltjo H. ''The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles: Scientific Research and Urban Legends''. Souvenir Press Ltd, 2001. ISBN 0285636251
* ''Crop Circles'' by Lucy Pringle, 2004, Pitkin (an imprint of Jarrold Publishing) ''(largely in favour of the supernatural explanation of Crop Circles)'', ISBN 1-84165-138-9.
+
* Howarth, Leslie G. ''If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles''. iUniverse, 2000. ISBN 0595156932
* ''Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles'' by Freddy Silva, 2002, ISBN 1-57174-322-7
+
* Irving, Robert, and John Lundberg. ''The Field Guide: The Art, History and Philosophy of Crop Circle Making''. Strange Attractor Press, 2006. ISBN 0954805429
* ''Vital Signs: A Complete Guide to the Crop Circle Mystery and Why It is Not a Hoax'' by Andy Thomas and Mike Leigh, 2002, ISBN 1-58394-069-3
+
* Janssen, Bert. ''The Hypnotic Power of Crop Circles''. Adventures Unlimited Press, 2004. ISBN 1931882347
* Sagan, Carl 1996. ''The Demon-Haunted world: Science as a Candle in the Dark''; "Aliens" pp 73ff.
+
* Kelly, Lynne. ''The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal''. Allen & Unwin, 2004. ISBN 1741140595
* Noyes, Ralph (editor) ''The Crop Circle Enigma: Grounding the Phenomenon in Science, Culture and Metaphysics'' The Hollows, Wellow, Bath U.K.:1990 Gateway Books, ISBN 0-946551-66-9
+
* Macnish, John. ''Cropcircle Apocalypse''. Circlevision, 1993. ISBN 095225803X
 +
* Noyes, Ralph. (ed.). ''The Crop Circle Enigma: Grounding the Phenomenon in Science, Culture and Metaphysics''. Bath, UK: Gateway Books, 1990. ISBN 0946551669
 +
* Pringle, Lucy. ''Crop Circles''.  Pitkin, 2004. ISBN 1841651389
 +
* Ritchie, David. ''UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena''. MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004
 +
* Sagan, Carl. ''The Demon-Haunted world: Science as a Candle in the Dark''. Ballantine Books, 1997. ISBN 0345409469
 +
* Schnabel, Jim. ''Round in Circles: Physicists, Poltergeists, Pranksters, and the Secret History of the Cropwatchers''. Penguin, 1993. ISBN 0140179526
 +
* Silva, Freddy. ''Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles''. Hampton Roads Pub Co, 2002. ISBN 1571743227
 +
* Thomas, Andy, and Mike Leigh. ''Vital Signs: A Complete Guide to the Crop Circle Mystery and Why It is Not a Hoax''. Frog Books, 2002. ISBN 1583940693
 
* Werner, Anderhub, and Roth HansPeter. ''Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries''. Lark Books, 2002. ISBN 1579902979
 
* Werner, Anderhub, and Roth HansPeter. ''Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries''. Lark Books, 2002. ISBN 1579902979
*Macnish, John. ''Cropcircle Apocalypse''. Circlevision, 1993. ISBN 095225803X
 
*Howarth, Leslie G. ''If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles''. iUniverse, 2000. ISBN 0595156932
 
*Kelly, Lynne. ''The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal''. Allen & Unwin, 2004. ISBN 1741140595
 
*Ritchie, David. ''UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena''. MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004
 
*Carroll, Robert. ''Skeptics Dictionary: Crop Circles''. Wiley, 2005. ISBN 0471272426
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
+
All links retrieved July 6, 2013.
 
;Skeptical and scientific analysis
 
;Skeptical and scientific analysis
* Mayell, Hillary, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0801_020801_cropcircles.html Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?] ''National Geographic News'', August 2, 2002.
+
* [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0801_020801_cropcircles.html Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?] – Mayell, Hillary, ''National Geographic News'', August 2, 2002.
* Nickel, Joe, [http://www.csicop.org/si/2002-09/crop-circles.html Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light], ''Skeptical Inquirer'', September/October 2002.
+
* [http://www.siue.edu/GEOGRAPHY/ONLINE/Northcote06.pdf Spatial distribution of England's crop circles: Using GIS to investigate a geo-spatial mystery] – Northcote, Jeremy
* Northcote, Jeremy, [http://www.siue.edu/GEOGRAPHY/ONLINE/Northcote06.pdf Spatial distribution of England's crop circles: Using GIS to investigate a geo-spatial mystery]  
+
* [http://www.stonehenge-avebury.net/scienceofcropcircles.htm Scientific Viewpoints regarding Crop Circles,] – Meaden, T. CERES, February 2000.
* [http://www.stonehenge-avebury.net/scienceofcropcircles.htm Scientific Viewpoints regarding Crop Circles]
+
* [http://nyos.lv/en/krugi-na-poljah-30324 Crop Circles] – Solodovnik, Nataliya Anatolievna.
* Solodovnik, Nataliya Anatolievna, [http://www.nyos.lv/doc/eng__new_zagotovki.pdf Crop Circles: Basic Postulates]
 
 
   
 
   
 
;Circle creators
 
;Circle creators
 
* [http://www.circlemakers.org/ Circle Makers]  
 
* [http://www.circlemakers.org/ Circle Makers]  
* [http://www.amtsgym-sdbg.dk/as/crop/ufofake.HTM Crop Circles ... or just Crap Circles ?"]
+
* [http://science.howstuffworks.com/crop-circle.htm How Crop Circles Work] at HowStuffWorks
* [http://science.howstuffworks.com/crop-circle.htm How Crop Circles Work] at HowStuffWorks
 
  
 
;Pro paranormal explanation websites:
 
;Pro paranormal explanation websites:
 
* [http://www.CropCirclesandMore.com/ Crop Circles and More]  
 
* [http://www.CropCirclesandMore.com/ Crop Circles and More]  
* [http://www.visiblesigns.de/index.php?id=e-kk-main-laender Cropcircles]  
+
* [http://www.visiblesigns.de/ Cropcircles]  
 
* [http://www.kochkyborg.de/Kornkreise/Englisch/kornint.htm The Crop Circle Phenomenon]  
 
* [http://www.kochkyborg.de/Kornkreise/Englisch/kornint.htm The Crop Circle Phenomenon]  
 
* [http://www.ukcropcircles.co.uk UK Crop Circles]
 
* [http://www.ukcropcircles.co.uk UK Crop Circles]
 
* [http://www.cropcircleconnector.com Crop Circle Connector]  
 
* [http://www.cropcircleconnector.com Crop Circle Connector]  
* [http://www.cropcircle-archive.com/ Crop Circle Archive]  
+
* [http://www.cropcirclecenter.com/ Crop Circle Center]  
 
* [http://www.cropcircleresearch.com/ Crop Circle Research]  
 
* [http://www.cropcircleresearch.com/ Crop Circle Research]  
  
 
{{Credits|Crop_circle|255723641}}
 
{{Credits|Crop_circle|255723641}}

Revision as of 23:35, 6 July 2013

Crop circle
Unusual ground marking
CropCircleSwirl.jpg
A crop circle consisting of multiple circles
Details
Unusual ground marking:Crop circle
Definition:A Geometric or abstract pattern formed by the flattening of crops
Signature:1) Crops broken at the base and matted in a distinct pattern
2) Crops bent at node points and matted in a distinct pattern.[1][2][3][4][5]
Misc
Coined by:The term was invented by researcher Colin Andrews in the early 1980s and entered the Oxford Dictionary in 1997.
Related TermCerealogy: The Study of Crop circles
See Also:Unusual ground marking

Crop circles is a term used for a phenomenon where crops, such as wheat, barley, rapeseed (also called "canola"), rye, corn, linseed and soy are flattened or bent low on their stalks, producing circular and other patterns when viewed from the air. Crop circles were first reported during the later decades of the twentieth century in a few crop fields, but since have become a worldwide phenomenon.

Various hypotheses have been offered to explain their formation, ranging from the naturalistic, and hoaxes, to the paranormal. Most commonly, crop circles are connected to UFOs and beliefs in extraterrestrial life, with claims that they are communications from aliens. While many have been proved hoaxes, crop circles have continued to appear and both the general public and scientific researchers have continued to be fascinated by the phenomenon. Like other such mysteries, there are those who believe they originate in a realm beyond the known physical world and there are those who reject such possibilities. This clash between those who are skeptical and those who are open to the unknown reflects human desire to pursue truth and at the same time the problem of ignorance and confusion regarding how to discover and recognize truth.

History

Crop circles did not become a widespread phenomenon garnering worldwide interest until the late twentieth century. However, there are some who claim that crop circles have been appearing for centuries, particularly in Europe. The earliest account of what has been suggested to be a crop circle may be found in a seventeenth-century English woodcut called the Mowing-Devil. The image depicts the Devil with a scythe mowing (cutting) a circular design in a field of oats. The pamphlet containing the image states that the farmer, disgusted at the wage his mower was demanding for his work, insisted that he would rather have "the devil himself" perform the task. According to the pamphlet, that night his field appeared to be in flame. The next morning, the field was found to be perfectly mowed—unnaturally perfect, in fact.[6]

1678 pamphlet on the Mowing-Devil.

Another early example of crop circles is the 1880 report by amateur scientist John Rand Capron:

The storms about this part of Surrey have been lately local and violent, and the effects produced in some instances curious. Visiting a neighbour's farm on Wednesday evening (21st), we found a field of standing wheat considerably knocked about, not as an entirety, but in patches forming, as viewed from a distance, circular spots....I could not trace locally any circumstances accounting for the peculiar forms of the patches in the field, nor indicating whether it was wind or rain, or both combined, which had caused them, beyond the general evidence everywhere of heavy rainfall. They were suggestive to me of some cyclonic wind action.[7]

In 1966, one of the most famous accounts of UFO appearances was reported in the small town of Tully, Queensland, Australia. A sugar cane farmer said he witnessed a saucer-shaped craft rise 30 or 40 feet (12 m) up from a swamp and then fly away. When he went to investigate the location where he thought the saucer had landed, he found the reeds intricately weaved in a clockwise fashion on top of the water. The woven reeds could hold the weight of 10 men.[8] The incident gained a lot of attention first in Australia, and then later in the world, albeit short lived. It is possibly the reason that many of the subsequent instances of crop circles were linked to UFO activity.[8]

Crop circles started to appear throughout the English countryside in the 1970s, and became even more frequent in the 1980s. At first the designs were uncomplicated circles, or variants of circles, but as the frequency of the phenomena increased throughout the 1980s, so did their complexity. In Great Britain a reported 400 new crop circles were discovered in 1990, considered a peak year for the incidents. Designs discovered at Barbary Castle were some of the largest and most geometrically complex reported.[9] The frequency and complexity of the crop circles, as well as the mystery surrounding their creation, helped to gain the attention of the media. Not long afterwards, crop circles began to show up in other countries, such as the former Soviet Union and Japan, as well as the U.S. and Canada.

Like many aspects of the occult and paranormal, crop circles soon became incorporated and exploited by pop culture. An example of this is the occasional profit made from circle incidents. Although some farmers expressed concern at the damage caused to their crops, local response to the appearance of crop circles can often be enthusiastic, with locals taking advantage of the tourist potential of circles. Past responses have included bus or helicopter tours of circle sites, walking tours, t-shirts and book sales. Potential markets include curious tourists, scientists, and crop circle researchers, and individuals seeking a spiritual experience by communing with spirits.[10] In 1996, a circle appeared near Stonehenge, and the farmer set up a booth and charged a fee. He collected £30,000 in four weeks. The value of the crop had it been harvested was probably about £150.[10]

Widespread media coverage of crop circles, coupled with the revealing of some very complex and famous circles being the products of hoaxes, dulled the widespread intrigue of crop circles. Nevertheless, many committed researchers continue to be devoted to their study.

Designs

File:MadinsonvilleCropCircle.jpg
Wheat pattern about 150 feet (46 m) in diameter with crop laid down in counterclockwise circles discovered on May 14, 2007, by Monroe County, Tennessee Sheriff's Department Patrol Captain Bryan Graves while flying. First aerial photographs on Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Early examples of crop circles were usually simple circular patterns of various sizes. Later, more complex geometric patterns emerged. In general, the early formations (1970–2000) seemed to be based on the principles of sacred geometry. Later formations, those occurring after 2000, appear to be based on other principles, natural sciences and mathematics designs, including fractals. Many crop circles have fine intricate detail, regular symmetry, and careful composition. Elements of three-dimensionality became more frequent, culminating in spectacular images of cube-shaped structures.

Explanations

Hoaxes/Man-made

File:Crop circles Swirl.jpg
A crop circle in the form of a double (six-sided) Triskelion composed of Circles.

Since nearly the beginning of the crop circle phenomenon, there have been many who claimed that the designs were hoaxes. One of the most famous examples happened in 1991, when two men from Southampton, England announced that they had conceived the idea of crop circles as a prank at a pub near Winchester, Hampshire during an evening in 1976. Inspired by the 1966 Tully Saucer Nests, Doug Bower and Dave Chorley made their crop circles using planks, rope, hats, and wire as their only tools: using a four-foot-long plank attached to a rope, they easily created circles eight feet in diameter.[11] The two men were able to make a 40-foot (12 m) circle in 15 minutes. The pair became frustrated when their work did not receive significant publicity, and so in 1981 they created a circle in Matterley Bowl, a natural amphitheatre just outside Winchester, Hampshire—an area surrounded by roads from which a clear view of the field is available to drivers passing by. Their designs were at first simple circles. When newspapers claimed that the circles could easily be explained by natural phenomena, Bower and Chorley made more complex patterns. A simple wire with a loop, hanging down from a cap—the loop positioned over one eye—could be used to focus on a landmark to aid in the creation of straight lines. Later designs of crop circles became increasingly complicated.[11] Eventually Bower's wife became suspicious, noticing high levels of mileage in their car. Fearing that his wife suspected him of adultery, Bower confessed to her and subsequently he and Chorley informed a British national newspaper. Chorley died in 1996, but Doug Bower continued making crop circles until at least 2004.

Crop Circle hoaxes and techniques became widespread knowledge by the end of the twentieth century. In 2002, Scientific American published an article by Matt Ridley, who had started making crop circles in northern England in 1991.[12] He wrote about how easy it is to develop techniques using simple tools that can easily fool later observers. Methods to create a crop circle are now well-documented on the Internet. One internet group of crop circle makers demonstrated that making what self-appointed cereologist experts state are "unfakeable" crop circles is possible. On more than one occasion cereologists claimed that a crop circle was genuine when the people making the circle had previously been filmed making it.[13]

A Crop circle in Switzerland

Not everybody accepts that crop circles are man-made, however, believing instead that many designs are too perfect and that they lack signs of human interaction. Among these critics was British born astronomer Gerald Hawkins who, prior to his death, argued that some circles displayed a level of complexity and accuracy that would be difficult to recreate on paper, let alone in a field after dark.[14] In response, circle creating groups and proponents of the man-made hypothesis have claimed that it is possible to create a complex design by marking radii and angles with rope, and to enter and to move about a field using landscape features and tractor trails in order to avoid leaving other marks.[15]

One issue is that despite the appearance of numerous crop circles, those making them are almost never caught in the act. In most cases that the creation of crop circles is a nocturnal activity, making it difficult to observe their construction. During one attempt to observe the creation of a crop circle, numerous individuals witnessed nothing out of the ordinary, yet were astounded the next morning to see a crop circle in a field 500 yards (460 m) away from the one they had been watching all night.[15]

Paranormal

Since appearing in the media in the 1970s, crop circles have become the subject of various paranormal and fringe beliefs, the most popular being that they represent messages from extraterrestrials.[16] UFOs and other lights in the sky have been reported in connection with many crop circle sites, leading to them becoming associated with UFOs and aliens. Some people claim to have seen images of UFOs forming crop circles or flying over them, though photographs have been dismissed by skeptics as being indistinct or clearly hoaxes.[15]

Other features of crop circles that have suggested to some that some circles were not formed by simple man-made devices include electro-static charge measurements that show a clear difference between the inside and outside of the circle. Some crop circles showed this difference while others did not, a distinction that appeared to correlate well with known hoaxes versus possible true examples:

The gadget indicated electrical current flow in plants and living matter, including humans. However, in 'genuine' Corn Circles (as opposed to human made ones) there was a complete lack of energy almost as if whatever was making the corn circles had 'earthed' them.[17]

In addition to the static electricity effect, a variety of unexplained, sometimes musical, sounds have been heard in the vicinity of crop circles.[18] An example was reported by Colin Andrews of a number of short bursts of oscillating tones recorded on audio tape during "Operation White Crow." This was an investigation that took place at a location known as the "Devil's Punchbowl" at Cheesefoot Head, near Winchester in Hampshire, in the summer of 1989. During a break in their surveillance operations, a group gathered in one of the crop circles when they heard an unexpected sound which their equipment recorded:

Suddenly, we all heard a sound from the east. As we listened, it grew louder and we could sense it getting closer. It was definitely directional, in that we could all tell precisely where it was coming from, and we could follow it as it moved. The sound then rotated around us, floating around the circle three or four times, like an auditory cloud that passed above us in a circle. And again, it was directional: As it moved in its orbit around us, we could follow it with our ears, and if it had been visible, we all felt we would have been able to track it from point to point around the circle. First it was in our left ear, then behind us, then in our right ear. ... In the exact direction the sound seemed to travel to when it left us was a fresh crop ring. The plants were still popping up, and still moving, as though a powerful hand had pressed them down, and they were just now springing back up. ... I believed then, as I believe now, that we had inadvertently encroached upon the creation of a crop circle. We had all unwittingly placed ourselves in the middle of a paranormal event.[19]

Most often, circumstantial evidence is used as justification for the UFO theory: The designs are created at night, usually without eyewitnesses; the designs at times are large, geometrical shapes and designs that may (or may not) have mathematical significance; and most importantly, crop circles are best seen from above the ground, such as in an airplane, implying that an airborne device was used to create it.

Others see crop circles as a more spiritual matter. The location of many crop circles near ancient sites such as Stonehenge, barrows, and chalk horses has led to many New Age belief-systems incorporating crop circles. This includes the belief that they are formed in relation to ley lines and that they give off energy that can be detected through dowsing.[4] New Age followers sometimes gather at crop circle sites in order to meditate, or because they believe that they can use the circle in order to contact spirits.[10]

Naturally Occurring

A third possibility that has been set forth is that crop circles are caused by naturally occurring, albeit unusual, meteorological phenomena. According to material published by the BLT institute, anomalies found at some circle sites in England and the United States are consistent with them having been created when localized columns of ionized air (dubbed plasma vortices/vortexes) form over standing crops.[20] Minuscule spheres of magnetic iron have also been found, distributed either around the perimeter of the circle, or linearly, which suggests a very complex delivery system. Bent or extended nodes in the stems of cereal grasses too have been found, suggesting that the crop has been subjected to a very rapid electromagnetic burst, causing the moisture inside the stems to expand, stretching or bending the nodes to almost three times their length. Holes have been found in the nodes, suggesting a rapid microwave burst, causing the moisture to turn into steam, which then forces its way out and leaving expulsion cavities.[21]

Other hypotheses attribute them to atmospheric phenomena such as freak tornadoes or ball lightning.[15] Of course, these theories do not readily explain the intricate, precise, and geometrical design of many crop circles.

Analysis

The main criticism of theories of non-human creation of crop circles is that evidence of these origins, besides eyewitness testimonies, is scant. Crop circles are usually easily explicable as the result of human pranksters. There have also been cases in which researchers declared crop circles to be "the real thing," only to be confronted soon after with the people who created the circle and documented the fraud. Many people have demonstrated how complex crop circles can be created.[22][23]

In his 1997 book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, Carl Sagan discussed alien-based theories of crop circle formation. Sagan concluded that no empirical evidence existed to link UFOs with crop circles. Specifically, he reported that there were no credible cases of UFOs being observed creating a circle, yet there were many cases when it was known that human agents, such as Doug Bower and Dave Chorley, were responsible.[22]

In 1999, researcher Colin Andrews received funding from Laurence Rockefeller to conduct a two-year investigation into crop circle hoaxing. Andrews put together a team which studied crop circles and infiltrated several groups known to be creating man-made circles. Using these man-made circles as a base, Andrews went on to study data from circles found in England in 1999 and 2000. Andrews concluded that 80 percent of all circles studied showed "unassailable" signs of having been man-made, including post holes used to demarcate circle layouts or evidence of human tracks underlying the circle sites, but could not account for the remaining 20 percent, for which he was unable to find signs of human interaction.[19] Andrews' figures were disputed by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP), arguing that Andrews' criteria for distinguishing between man-made circles and non man-made circles were insufficient, since no official standard exists for determining the nature of a crop circle.[24]

In 2002, Freddy Silva published Secrets in the Fields, in which he paraphrased Gerald Hawkins' summary:

If crop circles are made by hoaxers, then they should stop doing it, because they are breaking the law and damaging the food supply. If they are made by UFO aliens, they shouldn't give us back the dates of our trips to Mars and the names of the men from the Titanic era - famous, clever, but now forgotten. If some are transcendental, the power behind it should realize that our culture is not now willing to accept transcendental happenings. But if they are indeed transcendental, then society will have to make a big adjustment in the years ahead.[25]

Regardless of how many crop circles have been proved hoaxes, their continuing appearance and certain of the phenomena that accompany them prevent a final conclusion on their origin. In fact, whatever their nature, the appearance of these circles and the excitement they generated among both the general public and scientists is a phenomenon in itself:

Some would argue that crop circles are the greatest mystery of our age. Others dismiss them as the work of pranksters and hoaxers. Some claim that they are a source of enlightenment whilst others are disappointed at the politics they have created. However you view the crop circles, there is no denying that they have had a profound effect on mankind in these latter years of the 20th Century. The crop circles can be viewed as a complete microcosm of human passion and vulnerability. Almost a condensed version of the human race itself, with egos, anger, peace and varying views all expressed by followers.[26]

Notes

  1. Leslie Kean, "Origin of Crop Circles Baffles Scientists," The Providence Journal, Rhode Island, (2002-09-16)
  2. W. C. Levengood, "Anatomical anomalies in crop formation plants," Physiologia Plantarum, Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society 92 (1994):356-363
  3. Anderhub Werner and Hans Peter Roth, Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries (Lark Books, 2002, ISBN 1579902979).
  4. 4.0 4.1 Leslie G. Howarth, If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles (iUniverse, 2000, ISBN 0595156932). Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "howarth1" defined multiple times with different content
  5. Lynne Kelly, The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal (Allen & Unwin, 2004, ISBN 1741140595).
  6. Andy Thomas, "The 'Mowing Devil' Investigated," Swirled News, 2001. Retrieved January 4, 2008
  7. John Rand Capron, "A case of genuine crop circles dating from July 1880," Journal of Meteorology 25 (2000): 20-21. ISSN 0307-5966 (original Nature 22 (July 1880): 290-291).
  8. 8.0 8.1 "The Tully Saucer Nest" UFO Casebook, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009
  9. David Ritchie, UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena (MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Hillary Mayell, "Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?" National Geographic, August 2, 2002. Retrieved January 5, 2009
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Doug Bower Interview: How It All Started" UFOs Up-Close, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2008
  12. Matt Ridley, "Crop Circle Confession," Scientific American, July, 2002. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  13. John Macnish, Cropcircle Apocalypse (Circlevision, 1993, ISBN 095225803X).
  14. "Gerald Hawkins work on crop circles and their relationship to Euclidean geometry and and diatonic ratios," The Crop Circular, Cropcirclesecrets.org, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2009
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Joe Nickel, Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light, Skeptical Inquirer magazine September/October, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2009
  16. Robert Carroll, Skeptics Dictionary: Crop Circles (Wiley, 2005, ISBN 0471272426).
  17. Paul Vigay, "Enigma Issue 1: Electro-Static Charge Indications,", Crop Circle Research, 1993. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  18. Paul Vigay, Crop Circle Research Projects into Sound and Harmonics, Crop Circle Research, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Colin Andrews and Stephen J. Spignesi, Crop Circles: Signs of Contact (New Page Books, 2003, ISBN 156414674X).
  20. Eltjo Haselhoff, The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles: Scientific Research and Urban Legends (Frog Ltd, 2001, ISBN 1583940464).
  21. "Magnetic Materials in Soils," BLT Research Team Inc., 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2009
  22. 22.0 22.1 Carl Sagan, The Demon Haunted World (Ballantine Books, 1997, ISBN 0345409469).
  23. Circlemakers. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  24. Joe Nickell, "Levengood's Crop-Circle Plant Research," Investigative Files, Skeptical Briefs newsletter, June 1996. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  25. Freddy Silva, Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles (Hampton Roads Publishing Company, 2002, ISBN 1571743227), 299.
  26. Paul Vigay, Crop Circles - What's it all coming to? Enigma Issue 17, Crop Circle Research, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2009.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Andrews, Colin, and Pat Delgado. Circular Evidence: A Detailed Investigation of the Flattened Swirled Crops Phenomenon. London: Bloomsbury, 1989. ISBN 0747506353
  • Andrews, Colin, and Stephen Spignesi. Crop Circles: Signs of Contact. New Page Books, 2003. ISBN 156414674X
  • Carroll, Robert. Skeptics Dictionary: Crop Circles. Wiley, 2005. ISBN 0471272426
  • Haselhoff, Eltjo H. The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles: Scientific Research and Urban Legends. Souvenir Press Ltd, 2001. ISBN 0285636251
  • Howarth, Leslie G. If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles. iUniverse, 2000. ISBN 0595156932
  • Irving, Robert, and John Lundberg. The Field Guide: The Art, History and Philosophy of Crop Circle Making. Strange Attractor Press, 2006. ISBN 0954805429
  • Janssen, Bert. The Hypnotic Power of Crop Circles. Adventures Unlimited Press, 2004. ISBN 1931882347
  • Kelly, Lynne. The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal. Allen & Unwin, 2004. ISBN 1741140595
  • Macnish, John. Cropcircle Apocalypse. Circlevision, 1993. ISBN 095225803X
  • Noyes, Ralph. (ed.). The Crop Circle Enigma: Grounding the Phenomenon in Science, Culture and Metaphysics. Bath, UK: Gateway Books, 1990. ISBN 0946551669
  • Pringle, Lucy. Crop Circles. Pitkin, 2004. ISBN 1841651389
  • Ritchie, David. UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena. MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004
  • Sagan, Carl. The Demon-Haunted world: Science as a Candle in the Dark. Ballantine Books, 1997. ISBN 0345409469
  • Schnabel, Jim. Round in Circles: Physicists, Poltergeists, Pranksters, and the Secret History of the Cropwatchers. Penguin, 1993. ISBN 0140179526
  • Silva, Freddy. Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles. Hampton Roads Pub Co, 2002. ISBN 1571743227
  • Thomas, Andy, and Mike Leigh. Vital Signs: A Complete Guide to the Crop Circle Mystery and Why It is Not a Hoax. Frog Books, 2002. ISBN 1583940693
  • Werner, Anderhub, and Roth HansPeter. Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries. Lark Books, 2002. ISBN 1579902979

External links

All links retrieved July 6, 2013.

Skeptical and scientific analysis
Circle creators
Pro paranormal explanation websites

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