{"id":2838,"date":"2026-03-20T11:32:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T11:32:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/israelagora.com.br\/en\/?page_id=2838"},"modified":"2026-03-20T11:32:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T11:32:49","slug":"o-misterio-do-stonehenge-israelense","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/israelagora.com.br\/en\/?page_id=2838","title":{"rendered":"The mystery of the ?israeli stonehenge?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Aerial photo of Rujm el-Hiri, an ancient monumental site in the Golan Heights, view to east. (Y. Shmidov and A. Wiegmann)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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\r\n\tdoi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0339952<\/a>
Credibility<\/a>: 9<\/font>8<\/font>9<\/font>
#israeli stonehenge<\/a><\/p>

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\r\n\tA mysterious ancient stone circle in Israel’s Golan Heights, known as Rujm el-Hiri and often called the “Stonehenge of the East” or “Wheel of Ghosts,” has intrigued archaeologists for decades<\/strong><\/p>

Formed by a central mound surrounded by several concentric rings of basalt stones, the site was built between 3,500 and 6,500 years ago, using around 40,000 tons of rocks.<\/p>

\r\nFor a long time, it was believed that it was something unique to the region, which led to several theories about its purpose: it could be a funerary monument, an astronomical observatory, a place for rituals or ceremonial meetings.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nNow, new research published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE shows that this mystery has only increased.<\/p>

\r\nA multidisciplinary team, led by archaeologist Michal Birkenfeld from Ben-Gurion University, used high-resolution satellite imagery (collected over 20 years, including from Google Earth and other sources), combined with artificial intelligence and image processing, to analyze the Golan landscape without having to go into the field all the time.<\/p>

\r\nThis method allowed us to see ancient shapes hidden by seasonal vegetation, shadows and other obstacles.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nTo the researchers’ surprise, they identified 28 large circular structures very similar to Rujm el-Hiri, all within a radius of just 25 kilometers from the main site.<\/p>

\r\nAlthough most are not as elaborate as the famous circle – varying in size, degree of preservation and complexity – they all follow the same basic logic: broad round shapes with concentric rings.<\/p>

\r\nSimilar structures also appear in other nearby areas, such as Galilee and even Lebanon.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nWith this discovery, Rujm el-Hiri ceases to be seen as an isolated and exceptional construction and becomes part of a broader regional phenomenon.<\/p>

\r\nThis greatly changes how experts interpret its meaning.<\/p>

\r\nA hypothesis that previously seemed plausible, such as being an astronomical observatory, had already been questioned in previous studies (which showed that the site moved and rotated over the centuries due to tectonic movements).<\/p>

\r\nNow, with so many similar places, the idea is gaining strength that these circles served for seasonal community meetings, something common in nomadic or pastoral societies at the time, where dispersed groups would periodically meet for collective activities, perhaps more practical than spiritual.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nExact dating remains challenging, but Birkenfeld suggests that the main period is between 6,000 and 5,000 years ago – a time of great change in the region, with nomadic groups and agricultural villages coexisting.<\/p>

\r\nThere is no clear evidence directly linking these circles to nearby settlements, and some appear to have been used, abandoned, and reused for centuries.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nIn the end, the study does not solve the enigma, but expands it.<\/p>

\r\nInstead of definitive answers about what exactly happened in these places, researchers now have a larger group of sites to investigate.<\/p>

\r\nRemote technology has revealed shapes, sizes, and locations, but only traditional archeology-excavations and detailed analysis-can shed light on activities, chronology, and cultural significance.<\/p>

\r\nAs the main researcher said, this work is just the beginning of a larger project, and the fact that there is “strength in numbers” can, finally, provide clues that a single monument could never offer alone.<\/p>

\r\nThe mystery of the “Israeli Stonehenge” is still alive, but now it is part of a much broader story.

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Published in 03\/20\/2026 11h32<\/em><\/p>\r\n

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Portuguese version<\/a><\/em><\/p>\r\n

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Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.<\/p>\r\n\t\t

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