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However, the origin of crop circles dates back much further. In 1678, a group of circles discovered in Hertfordshire were believed to be the work of the devil due because it seemed impossible that a human could have created it.
In the late 1980s, the media brought attention to crop circles in Hampshire and Wiltshire, popularizing the phenomenon.
Different explanations for their origin were suggested. Some believed that UFOs were responsible, while others proposed an unknown form of energy, potentially paranormal, as the creator.
Further investigation revealed that crop circles in the UK were not randomly distributed. They commonly emerged in proximity to roads, inhabited regions, and landmarks like the historic stone circles at Stonehenge and Avebury.
During the examination of the circles, a board game and a wooden crucifix were discovered in the center of one. Researcher Colin Andrews accepted the possibility that the flashing orange lights were likely caused by a hoaxer's heat signature.
Colin Andrews informed the press that their research had been hindered by a joke, causing a setback. He emphasized the seriousness of their work and emphasized that the joke's amusement was short-lived.
The individuals behind the interruption of Operation Blackbird weren't identified, but their actions damaged the reputation of the "cerealogists."
According to reports, conspiracy theorists have suggested that the army carried out the deception to diminish the researchers credibility.
In 1991, Doug Bower and Dave Chorley shocked the world when they claimed that they were the ones behind the crop circles, starting back in 1978. They showcased the process of creating a crop circle using basic tools like a wooden plank, a rope, and a baseball cap with a wire loop for maintaining a straight line.
Bower and Chorley allegedly stated that they were influenced by the events that took place in Australia during the 1960s. They took credit for all crop circles in Britain before 1987 and for over 200 crop circles from 1978 to 1991.
Other incidents have more straightforward explanations. In 2002, individuals reported the presence of crop circles near Pike Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada. However, it was subsequently confirmed that these formations were, in fact, mounds of manure that had been discarded by a nearby farmer.
According to the publication, crop circles have been observed globally in various locations since that time. In southern England, where most activity occurs, circle-makers focus on rapeseed, barley, and wheat fields.
However, there are skeptics who doubt that crop circles are solely man-made. Physics World reveals that biophysicists have interpreted swollen stems as proof that the crops were subjected to microwaves when the circles were formed. This discovery has resulted in patented methods for speeding up crop growth.
Following Bower and Chorley's admission, a passionate discussion arose between those who held the belief that humans were responsible and those who contended that their confession couldn't account for every circle.
Studies published in 1999 and 2001 found evidence of radiation exposure on crops in crop circle formations, which puzzles those who attribute the circles to human-made wooden plank designs.
The revelation of Bower and Chorley's circles in the 1990s led to an increase in crop circles. In 2009, Smithsonian magazine reported that these geometric designs have become larger and more intricate over the years. Anonymous circle-makers have been attracting New Age tourists with their creations.
Likewise, the circles observed in Australia during the 1960s could potentially be attributed to wallabies consuming opium. According to reports, these marsupials entered poppy fields cultivated for medicinal purposes, consumed excessive amounts of the crops, and subsequently moved in circular patterns.
See also: The fascinating history of crop circles
Similar sites have been documented in various parts of Australia, such as Tooligie Hill in South Australia in 1971 and Navarre in Victoria in September 1972.
In the 1960s, there were numerous UFO sightings in Queensland, Australia. People claimed to have discovered circles in swamp reeds and cane fields. One such incident occurred in 1966 when a sizable circle was found in the reeds of a swamp in Tully, Queensland.
During the 1980s, there was a significant increase in reported circles, leading to the popularization of the term "crop circles."
A team of scientists in 1990, the self-proclaimed "cerealogists," embarked on an investigation to unravel the mystery surrounding these formations. They established a camp on a Wiltshire hillside, equipped with detectors for heat, light, and sound. Their objective was to capture any evidence of a UFO or an extraterrestrial entity responsible for crafting crop circles.
Operation Blackbird included collaboration with the BBC and the area was patrolled by officials from the Ministry of Defence. On the second night, the monitoring equipment recorded flashing orange lights in the adjacent field. The next morning, two large circles with parallel lines between them were discovered.
During the 1980s and 1990s, crop circles were popping up all over the world, causing fear and intrigue about their origins. However, these cryptic patterns seem to have disappeared in recent years.
Let´s explore the history, facts, and theories about this mysterious phenomenon that inspired an environmental art form. Click through the gallery to get started.
Crop circles: what do we know about this mysterious phenomenon?
Have you every seen one up close?
LIFESTYLE History
During the 1980s and 1990s, crop circles were popping up all over the world, causing fear and intrigue about their origins. However, these cryptic patterns seem to have disappeared in recent years.
Let´s explore the history, facts, and theories about this mysterious phenomenon that inspired an environmental art form. Click through the gallery to get started.