Crop Circles
PHENOMENON FILE
Crop Circles
Crop circles are geometric patterns created by flattening or bending crops within agricultural fields. They range from simple circular markings to highly complex designs incorporating multiple circles, rings, lines, geometric figures, and pictorial or symbolic elements. Although crop formations have been reported in different countries, the modern phenomenon is particularly associated with southern England, especially Wiltshire and neighboring counties.
Crop circles occupy an unusual position within UAP and anomalous-phenomena research because there is substantial evidence that many, and often most, formations are deliberately created by people. At the same time, some researchers and proponents have argued that particular formations display characteristics they consider difficult to explain through conventional construction methods.ultural fields. They range from simple circular markings to highly complex designs incorporating multiple circles, rings, lines, geometric figures, and pictorial or symbolic elements. Although crop formations have been reported in different countries, the modern phenomenon is particularly associated with southern England, especially Wiltshire and neighboring counties.
Crop circles occupy an unusual position within UAP and anomalous-phenomena research because thaThe subject therefore contains several distinct layers of evidence. The documented human-made record is extensive, including the well-known 1991 admission by Doug Bower and Dave Chorley that they had created numerous formations in England. Alongside that record are claims concerning unusual plant changes, geometric complexity, apparent overnight formation, and other characteristics that some investigators have interpreted as potentially anomalous. These claims remain disputed and should be distinguished from established evidence.ere is substantial evidence that many, and often most, formations are deliberately created by people. At the same time, some researchers and proponents have argued that particular formations display characteristics they consider difficult to explain through conventional construction methods.ultural fields. They range from simple circular markings to highly complex designs incorporating multiple circles, rings, lines, geometric figures, and pictorial or symbolic elements. Although crop formations have been reported in different countries, the modern phenomenon is particularly associated with southern England, especially Wiltshire and neighboring counties.
History
Early Reports and Folklore
Stories of unusual circles, flattened vegetation, and mysterious markings in fields predate the modern crop-circle movement. One frequently cited historical example is the 1678 English pamphlet known as the Mowing-Devil, which describes a strange circular pattern cut into a field. The account is sometimes presented as an early crop-circle report, although the event and its interpretation are debated, and it should not automatically be treated as evidence of the modern phenomenon.
Other historical reports describe “fairy rings,” circular vegetation patterns, or areas of flattened crops. These accounts have different possible explanations and do not establish that modern crop circles existed in the same form centuries ago.
Emergence of the Modern Phenomenon
The modern crop-circle phenomenon developed primarily in England during the second half of the twentieth century. Reports of simple circular formations increased during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly around Hampshire, Wiltshire, and surrounding areas.
As formations became more elaborate, media attention increased. Researchers began documenting individual formations, measuring their geometry, photographing them from the air, and investigating claims concerning the condition of the plants and soil.
The development of increasingly sophisticated formations transformed the subject from reports of unexplained circles into a broader cultural phenomenon involving mathematics, symbolism, art, folklore, environmental claims, and UFO/UAP interpretations.
The Bower and Chorley Record
One of the most important established facts in the history of crop circles concerns Doug Bower and Dave Chorley.
Beginning in the late 1970s, the two men created numerous crop formations in southern England. In 1991, they publicly claimed responsibility for producing many of the circles that had attracted attention during the previous decade.
Bower and Chorley demonstrated that relatively elaborate formations could be constructed using simple tools and techniques, including boards, ropes, measuring methods, and careful planning. Their admission became a major part of the skeptical case that human activity can account for a substantial portion of the modern crop-circle record.
Their activities do not, however, establish that every formation reported before or after their admission was created by them. Instead, their work provides documented evidence that apparently mysterious formations can be deliberately produced by people without requiring extraordinary technology.
Characteristics of Crop Circles
Crop formations vary considerably in size, design, construction, and complexity.
Common characteristics include:
- Flattened or bent cereal crops
- Circular or ring-shaped patterns
- Multiple concentric circles
- Radial lines and geometric structures
- Symmetrical mathematical designs
- Large pictorial formations
- Symbols, letters, or recognizable images
- Patterns extending across substantial areas of farmland
Formation Types
Simple Circles
The simplest formations consist of one or more circular areas of flattened crop. These are among the easiest patterns to reproduce manually and form part of the earliest modern crop-circle record.
Geometric Formations
More complex formations can contain concentric rings, triangles, spirals, grids, arcs, and other geometric relationships. Some designs appear to incorporate mathematical ratios or symmetrical arrangements.
Pictograms and Symbolic Designs
Later formations increasingly included recognizable pictures, symbols, animals, faces, astronomical references, and other imagery. These formations are often large enough to be clearly visible from the air.
Large Composite Formations
Some formations combine many individual elements into a single large design. Their scale and geometric precision can make them visually striking and difficult to understand from ground level alone.
Documented Human-Made Formations
The human-made component of the crop-circle phenomenon is not speculative.
Bower and Chorley’s activities provide a documented historical example, while numerous later crop-circle makers and groups have openly demonstrated their techniques. Modern formation construction can involve ropes, boards, measuring tapes, surveying equipment, GPS, and detailed planning.
The existence of deliberate formations has also created an important methodological problem for researchers: a formation may appear unexplained when first discovered but later be identified as a human-made artwork.
Consequently, the fact that a formation appeared overnight or was not witnessed being constructed is not, by itself, evidence of an anomalous origin.
Anomalous Claims
Some crop-circle investigators have reported characteristics they believe distinguish certain formations from conventional human-made examples.
These claims have included:
- Unusual bending or alteration of plant stems
- Changes to plant nodes
- Reported differences in seed or plant development
- Electromagnetic or radiation measurements
- Soil changes
- Unusual biological effects
- Formation complexity allegedly exceeding practical construction methods
- Reports that formations appeared during a very short period
Record Data
Name
Crop Circles
Also Known As
Crop Formations
Classification
Classification Anomalous Phenomenon / Cultural Phenomenon
Primary Locations
United Kingdom, particularly southern England; reported internationally
Modern Emergence
Late 20th century
Notable Historical Record
Doug Bower and Dave Chorley's 1991 admission of creating numerous formations
Evidence Status
Mixed: extensive documented human-made formations alongside disputed anomalous claims
Research Status
Ongoing and contested
FDRT Designation
Phenomenon
Frequently Asked Questions
What are crop circles?
Crop circles are patterns formed by flattening or bending crops in agricultural fields. They range from simple circles to highly complex geometric and pictorial designs.
Are crop circles man-made?
Many crop circles are demonstrably human-made. Doug Bower and Dave Chorley famously admitted in 1991 that they had created numerous formations, and other artists and groups have demonstrated similar techniques.
Who were Doug Bower and Dave Chorley?
Bower and Chorley were Englishmen who created numerous crop formations during the late twentieth century. Their 1991 admission became one of the most important documented pieces of evidence in the history of the modern crop-circle phenomenon.
Are all crop circles hoaxes?
It is not possible to make that claim about every individual formation simply from the existence of the documented hoax record. Many formations are demonstrably human-made, while the origins of particular formations have sometimes been disputed.
Primary Sources & References
- Contemporary and historical accounts of crop formations in Britain
- Documentation concerning Doug Bower and Dave Chorley's 1991 public admission
- Investigative records concerning crop-circle formations in Wiltshire and southern England
- Field research and photographic documentation of individual formations
- Published investigations of crop-circle plant and soil claims
- Skeptical analyses of human formation techniques
- Independent field measurements and formation documentation
- Research concerning the geometry and construction of individual formations
Connections
Related People
- Doug Bower
- Dave Chorley
- Colin Andrews
- Pat Delgado
Related Cases
- Notable Wiltshire Crop Formations
- Major International Crop Formations
Related Organizations & Research
- Crop-Circle Research Groups
- Crop-Circle Research Groups UAP Research Organizations
- Archaeological and Agricultural Research Sources