THE MYSTERIOUS MOTIFS: Part 2

EVOLUTION OF CROP CIRCLES

In this post I wish to consider the 'history of crop circles'.
For my introductory post on them, do see my previous post:

http://kritigangwar.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-mysterious-motifs.html

The documentation of crop circles in more modern times (not considering the ancient texts , drawings and other representations) started in the early 20th century, with a gradual increase in numbers. A marked increase in crop circles was seen in the 1960’s and then in 1990’s. With at least 190 formations documented in 1999 alone!

Since 1980's, these motifs are no longer simply circular and display a great variety. It is interesting to note is that they are always different, meaning, no design is ever repeated and their complexity increases with passing years.

Not just the basic design of the motif, the bending methods have also become more and more sophisticated. Thus, the stems may be bent in opposite directions, perpendicular to each other, or alternatively in radial and circular fashion in a large circular crop circle, for example. This can be seen in "The basket" made in 1996 and then in 2006.

Similarly, often the centre of a motif is emphasised by a bunch of stems that are left standing. This bunch can be simple or sometimes intertwined. Sometimes they may be bent to form a cone shape in the centre.

In a large circle, three very distinct patterns may be seen:
In some, the stems can be flattened and oriented from the centre towards the exterior in very regular waves.
In others, they may be bent in alternative radial and circular patterns in concentric fashion creating circles within the larger circle.
Third pattern that is seen is when stem are laid down radially around a point that is not the geometric centre of the main circle. "Off-centre circle" (Yatesbury - June 2007)

Here is an overview of the evolution:
•1678: mowing devil: early representation of a crop circle.
•Swirled circles became multiple circles
•Multiple circles arranged non randomly
•1978: first quintuplet was seen
•celtic crosses appeared as quintuplets showed outer satellite circles connected via rings
•1990: triple ringer
•1998: seven fold geometry appeared
•1999: nine fold geometry
•2000: eleven fold geometry
•2003: thirteen fold geometry
•Many crop circles these days are essentially 2-D representation of 3-D designs: like tetrahedron (1991)

Here are some interesting links:
http://www.crop-circles.eu/pages/origine_agroglyphes.php?lang=en

http://www.world-mysteries.com/sci_14.htm

Photo credits:
Christophe Esti val
Daniel Harran
Nick Nicholson
Lucy Pringle
Ulrich
Some photographs have been taken from:
http://youtu.be/BndVb1ucKOA

Next we will try put our heads together and speculate what these crop circles are trying to tell us.