A recent study has questioned the long-held belief that Rujm el-Hiri, the ancient Golan stone circle in Israel, was used as an astronomical observatory. Researchers from Tel Aviv University found that the site’s current alignment does not match celestial events as previously thought.
Rujm el-Hiri, known as the “Stonehenge of the East” or the “Wheel of Ghosts,” is a series of concentric stone circles surrounding a central burial mound with a small chamber.
Built with about 40,000 tons of rock, the site dates back to 3000–2700 BCE. While its purpose remains uncertain, some theories have suggested it was used for rituals tied to solstices or other celestial events.
Land movement undermines alignment theories
The research team analyzed the site using advanced remote sensing tools to study how the land has shifted over thousands of years. They discovered that the Golan stone circle in Israel has moved and rotated gradually, at a rate of 8 to 15 millimeters per year.
Over millennia, this movement has added up to several meters. This finding undermines the idea that the structure was intentionally aligned with celestial bodies.
“Speculations that the site was aligned with celestial bodies of the past are not supported,” the researchers stated. They noted that the site has rotated counterclockwise and shifted from its original position, making its entrances and radial walls inconsistent with astronomical alignments.
Mapping the archaeological landscape
The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Remote Sensing in November 2024. The research was conducted by Dr. Olga Khabarova of Tel Aviv University, Dr. Michal Birkenfeld of Ben-Gurion University, and Dr. Lev Eppelbaum of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University.
Rujm el-Hiri (stone heap of the wild cat), an ancient megalithic monument, located in Israeli-occupied region of Golan Heights.
Study of pottery sherds excavated in situ, Early Bronze Age II, 3000-2700 BC, or Chalcolithic Early Bronze Age I, 3880-3540 BC.#archaeohistories pic.twitter.com/M0VqrWG2vo
— Archaeo – Histories (@archeohistories) November 18, 2021
Using satellite imagery and remote sensing technology, the team produced the first comprehensive map of the archaeological landscape surrounding Rujm el-Hiri. The plain around the site, located about 10 miles from the Sea of Galilee, contains numerous ancient structures from the same era.
Among the notable features identified were circular structures with diameters ranging from 40 to 90 meters and thick stone walls. The researchers also documented round enclosures about 20 meters wide, likely used for agricultural or herding purposes.
In addition, dozens of burial mounds, or tumuli, were found in the area. While some were traditional graves, others may have served as storage spaces, shelters, or dwellings.
Further questions and future research
“The findings show that the entrances and radial walls during that historical period were entirely different, reopening the question of the site’s purpose,” the researchers wrote.
In their conclusion, the team called for further interdisciplinary research to compare Rujm el-Hiri with other megalithic sites worldwide.
They emphasized the importance of combining archaeological, geological, and environmental studies to better understand the origins and functions of such ancient monuments.
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