Rujm el-Hiri is a mysterious ancient basalt rock formation in the Golan Heights that has puzzled scientists for decades. Dubbed the “Stonehenge of the East,” the monument has exhibited abnormal movement over thousands of years, drifting tens of meters from its original location. A recent study published in Remote Sensing has brought new clarity to the structure’s mystery, revealing the reasons behind its movement and casting light on its purpose.
The Mystery of Rujm el-Hiri
Rujm el-Hiri is a mystery that has been a subject of intrigue since its discovery in 1968, 16 kilometers east of the Sea of Galilee. The structure, which consists of 42,000 basalt rocks arranged in concentric circles, stands out as an ancient marvel, with walls and burial mounds suggesting it may have been part of a larger, complex network of sites. The most interesting characteristic of Rujm el-Hiri has been the drifting motion; scientists do not understand how this structure can drift over a distance of about 131 feet or nearly 40 meters during 4,000 years.
Understand What Triggers the Movement
According to a new research study, this movement was credited to tectonic activity taking place within the region. It has been postulated from this study that around the Golan Heights, there are shifting movements of tectonic plates in an annual increment of 0.3 to 0.6 inches. Consequently, these changes in time scale over many years will result in shifting the whole location and will further alter its orientation as related to gateways and radial walls at Rujm el-Hiri.
The study has also indicated that the alignment of the structures at the monument from 3,500 BC to 2,500 BC significantly shifted in accordance with celestial events. The initial theory was that Rujm el-Hiri could have been an ancient sky observatory. It was after resetting the cosmic events with the position of the current monument that scientists found the walls and gateways no longer lined up with the celestial bodies the way they were aligned during antiquity.
Satellite Surveys Reveal Monument’s Larger Network
Using satellite imagery, researchers have discovered that Rujm el-Hiri is part of a larger, more complex structure. In addition to its outer circle, which spans 150 meters, the site includes smaller “flower-like” enclosures and linear stone walls. These findings suggest that the site was not an isolated monument but rather part of a broader network of ancient structures that could have served a variety of purposes beyond astronomical observation.
Continued Excavations and Future Research
Despite the tremendous discoveries, the researchers stress the need for continued excavation and study. The sophisticated design of Rujm el-Hiri and its alignment with natural and celestial features suggest that much more could be discovered about its purpose and the society that constructed it. The researchers believe that additional excavation, particularly around the burial mounds and smaller features, could prove valuable in uncovering the investment and cultural significance behind the monument.
Rujm el-Hiri remains a mystery in archaeology. Besides showing the geologic reasons why it has shifted, the study also questions prior theories about the purpose of Rujm el-Hiri. As excavation and study continue, what is left about Rujm el-Hiri’s historical and cultural significance will be discovered in the future to shed more light on the customs and beliefs of the ancient builders of this site.