Ancient 'Stonehenge' in Golan Heights may not be astronomical

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Archaeologists believe the earliest parts of the Rujm el-Hiri stone circle in the Golan Heights were constructed more than 6,000 years earlier.
(Image credit: Samion Buchas by means of Shutterstock)

An ancient and enigmatic stone circle in the Middle East might not be an ancient huge observatory after all, according to a brand-new research study of satellite images. Some of the criticisms might be misdirected, a professional on ancient astronomy informed Live Science.

Archaeologists believe the earliest parts of Rujm el-Hiri( which indicates “Heap of Stones of the Wildcat” in Arabic)were developed more than 6,000 years back. The website remains in the contested Golan Heights area, which is declared by both Israel and Syria.

Some earlier examinations proposed that spaces in the stone circle lined up with huge occasions, such as the summertime and winter season solstices — the quickest and longest nights, respectively– and the monolith has actually been compared to England’s Stonehenge

The brand-new research study’s geomagnetic analysis and tectonic restoration suggest that the whole landscape around Rujm el-Hiri and the neighboring Sea of Galilee has actually moved over time, according to the research study released Nov. 14 in the journal Remote Sensing

“The Rujm el-Hiri’s location shifted from its original position for tens of meters for the thousands of years of the object’s existence,” the authors composed– a finding that raises concerns about whether it acted as an ancient huge observatory.

Related: ‘Everything we discovered shattered our expectations’: Archaeologists find 1st huge observatory from ancient Egypt

Astronomer E.C. Kruppdirector of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, informed Live Science that the dislocation was not measured in the brand-new research study, so it might not figure out whether Rujm el-Hiri when revealed huge positionings.

Get the world’s most remarkable discoveries provided directly to your inbox.[ 19659013]

New research study recommends the whole landscape including the ancient stone circle has actually turned and moved geologically considering that Rujm el-Hiri was developed. (Image credit: Samion Buchas through Shutterstock)The ancient stones of Rujm el-Hiri

Research study lead author Olga Khabarovaan area physicist at Tel Aviv University in Israel, informed Live Science that the scientists had actually utilized satellite pictures to study Rujm el-Hiri and the surrounding landscape– a specifically helpful technique in remote areas or in politically delicate areas like the Golan Heights.

The research study exposed that Rujm el-Hiri was simply among countless ancient structures that had actually been integrated in the area, consisting of circular structures; enclosures with stone walls that appear to have actually been utilized for farming; and “tumuli,” mounds that might have been utilized for burials, houses or storage.

The ancient stone circle remains in the Golan Heights, which was inhabited by Israel throughout the Six-Day War in 1967, however the area is still declared by Syria. It includes numerous concentric circles, the biggest of which has to do with 500 feet (150 meters) throughout, that are made from loads of basalt stones that still withstand 8 feet (2.5 m) high.

The monolith is called Gilgal Refaim in Hebrew (implying “Wheel of Giants”and is open to the general public, however it can be reached just on dirt roadways and couple of individuals now venture there, Khabarova stated. Even when the stone circle was developed, the area needs to have been a rugged highland next to the more beneficial coasts of the Sea of Galilee, she stated.

( Image credit: Khabarova et al., 2024, Remote Sensing; CC BY 4.0)

The current research study utilized satellite pictures of the ancient stone circle at Rujm el-Hiri to expose brand-new information about its building.

Contested positionings

Khabarova stated the brand-new analysis showed geological procedures had actually turned the close-by landscape counterclockwise after Rujm el-Hiri was developed, which indicated it was not likely that any legitimate huge positionings might be presumed from its existing position.

The analysis of Rujm el-Hiri’s area is just a brief area of the brand-new paper, however the huge angle has actually been taken upon by numerous media outlets, consisting of the Times of Israel

Krupp, a specialist on ancient astronomy and the author of “Echoes of the Ancient Skies: The Astronomy of Lost Civilizations” (Dover, 2003), kept in mind that the 1998 paper that proposed huge positionings at Rujm el-Hiri had actually not declared it was an ancient observatory. Rather, that paper argued just that Rujm el-Hiri might have been “a ritual space that incorporated certain celestial alignments to fulfil a symbolic function,” he stated in an e-mail.

In addition, the most recent term paper did not measure just how much the landscape had actually turned therefore how far it had actually moved from its initial position, so it was not possible to identify if any proposed huge positionings were inaccurate, Krupp stated.

Tom Metcalfe is a self-employed reporter and routine Live Science factor who is based in London in the United Kingdom. Tom composes primarily about science, area, archaeology, the Earth and the oceans. He has actually likewise composed for the BBC, NBC News, National Geographic, Scientific American, Air & & Space, and lots of others.