The Ancient "Wheel Of Ghosts" Has Turned 40 Meters Since It Was Built 5,000 Years Ago [View all]

We're back to square one for why the "Stonehenge of the East" was built.

BENJAMIN TAUB
Freelance Writer

Edited
by
Katy Evans



An aerial shot of the 5,000-year old stone concentric circle known as the "wheel of ghosts".
Rujm el-Hiri in the Middle East is eerily similar to another circular structure in Crete.

Image credit: Bukvoed via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

The mystery surrounding one of the largest megalithic monuments in the Middle East has deepened significantly, as new research has just shattered the popular theory that the circular Rujm el-Hiri in the Golan Heights functioned as an astronomical observatory. Also known as the Wheel of Ghosts and the Levantine Stonehenge, this enigmatic labyrinthine structure is thought to be up to 5,000 years old, yet we’re back to square one in terms of understanding why it was built.

Originally uncovered in 1968, Rujm el-Hiri consists of a central cairn surrounded by multiple concentric circles made of basalt stones, connected via a series of radial walls. With a circumference of approximately 500 meters (1,640 feet) and a diameter of 150 meters (492 feet), the massive monument and its purpose have been the subject of intense debate for more than half a century.

For instance, some archaeologists believe the Wheel of Ghosts served as a defensive fort, while others suggest it may mark the burial site of an important leader or political figure. Unfortunately, very few artifacts have been recovered from within the structure, which means researchers have virtually no clues to work with.

However, in 1998, a study came out that showed that Rujm el-Hiri’s symmetry axes and entrances were aligned to the directions of the solstices, equinoxes, Sirius, and other celestial bodies as they would have appeared in the Bronze Age sky. This led to the widespread belief that the ancient monument served as an astronomical observatory.

More:
https://www.iflscience.com/the-ancient-wheel-of-ghosts-has-turned-40-meters-since-it-was-built-5000-years-ago-77514