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An ancient monument known as the “Wheel of Ghosts” has puzzled researchers after it shifted about 40 meters (5.000 feet) since its construction XNUMX years ago. The unexpected change raises new questions about its possible astronomical purpose and what the ancients were trying to achieve by erecting this mysterious structure.
One of the most enigmatic megalithic constructions in the Middle East, the Ghost Wheel, or Rujm el-Hiri, in the Golan Heights, has defied explanation since its discovery in 1968.
Dating back around 5.000 years, the imposing structure was recently the subject of a study which discarded the theory of its use as an astronomical observatory, bringing new mysteries to light.
Structure features
Rujm el-Hiri consists of a central cairn surrounded by multiple concentric circles of basalt stones, connected by radial walls.
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With a diameter of 150 meters and a circumference of 500 meters, the monument impresses with its complexity.
Despite its grandeur, few artifacts were recovered from the site, making clear interpretations of its purpose difficult.
Over the decades, various theories have emerged. Some archaeologists speculated that the structure may have been a defensive fort, while others believed it marked the burial place of a political figure or leader.
But, in 1998, a hypothesis gained strength: that the Ghost Wheel was an astronomical observatory.
Remote sensing . 2024 /
Freikman & Porat,
J. Inst. Archaeol. Tel Aviv Univ ., 2017 )
Astronomical Theories Challenged by Earth's Motion
The 1998 study suggested that the axes of symmetry and inlets of the Wheel were aligned with solstices, equinoxes and celestial bodies such as Sirius in the Bronze Age sky.
This idea was widely accepted, but the recent study brought new data that dismantles this thesis.
Researchers analyzed tectonic movements in the region around the Sea of Galilee over the past 150 million years.
They found that the tectonic blocks of northern Israel are continually moving in a counterclockwise trajectory at a rate of 8 to 15 millimeters per year.
This movement has resulted in the structure having shifted by about 40 meters over the last 4.000 years. This means that the alignments observed today do not correspond to the original positions of its entrances and radial walls.
"Integrated geophysical analysis of the region reveals that the Rujm el-Hiri site has rotated counterclockwise and shifted from its original location by tens of meters”, the authors of the study state. They conclude that the monument would hardly have been designed as an astronomical observatory.
Comparisons with other mysterious monuments
The research has rekindled the mystery surrounding the Ghost Wheel. Its true function is still unknown, but intriguing comparisons emerge.
In Crete, for example, archaeologists discovered a similar circular labyrinth, attributed to the Minoan civilization and dated to a historical period close to that of the Wheel.
This structure in Crete, also shrouded in mystery, may have served as a ceremonial space where rituals and feasts took place. Could the Ghost Wheel have shared a similar purpose?
What's to come
The lack of artifacts and the continued action of tectonic movements further complicate the understanding of the original purpose of Rujm el-Hiri.
However, the discovery that the structure has “rotated” over millennia highlights the importance of considering geological factors when interpreting ancient archaeological sites.
For now, the Wheel of Ghosts maintains its title as an enigma, a stone labyrinth that rotates not only physically, but also around the hypotheses that attempt to explain its creation.
What seemed like an answer turned into more questions, deepening the fascination surrounding this mysterious landmark of the human past.
