Rujm al-Hiri, an ancient basalt rock formation located in the Golan Heights, about 16 kilometers east of the Sea of Galilee, has been shifting by tens of meters since its formation about 5,000 years ago. For years, scientists have been pondering the cause of the unusual movements as well as the purpose of the monument, also known as ‘Stonehenge of the East’.
After years of mystery, scientists have finally come up with an answer. According to a study published in the journal remote sensingThe tectonic plates in the area around the Golan Heights shift between 0.3 and 0.6 inches each year, which means Ruim al-Hiri has shifted 131 feet (about 10 meters) over the past 4,000 years, disrupting the alignment of the stone structure. Kind of changed.
The study highlights, “The analysis shows that as the entire area has moved over time, the location of Rujm al-Hiri has shifted from its original position by tens of meters during the thousands of years of the object’s existence. “
Before the study, theories had indicated that the rock circle was an ancient sky observatory. To find truth in the theory, researchers recreated the sky map and aligned the directions of cosmic events as well as celestial bodies that would have appeared between 3,500 BC and 2,500 BC and aligned them with the current structure of the monument. Matched.
After studying the data, scientists found that the alignment of the monument’s entrances and radial walls during this historical period was “completely different from today”.
“This means that the current orientation of the radial walls and gateways was not the same as that of 4000–2000 BC, and speculations that they were aligned with celestial bodies in the past are not supported.”
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‘A complex structure’
Satellite surveys have revealed that Rujm al-Hiri consists of burial mounds, linear stone walls, and circular “flower-like” enclosures suggesting that the monument is not an isolated remains, but part of a complex network of ancient structures.
Since its discovery in 1968, Rujm al-Hiri has captured the imagination of archaeologists. The structure consists of 42,000 basalt rocks up to 2.5 meters high, arranged in concentric circles along with smaller structures sharing similar design principles. Its outer circle extends up to 150 meters.
The researchers claim that more excavations of selected features in and around Rujm al-Hiri are needed to better understand the reasons behind the substantial investment in the monument.
