CROP CIRCLES IN 1999

A three dimensional cube depiction, inside a ring. The perspective is not 100% accurate in the formation though.

Image Lucy Pringle Copyright 1999

A video Shots by Peter Sorensen (Homepage) Copyright 1999

ANTAHKARANA

Diagram Peter Sorensen Copyright 1999

Here are pole shots of the one people are calling the "Escher" formation at Allington. The three shots pan across the formation. It is in wheat.

Reported by Peter Sorensen

FIELD REPORT

Pole shots by Stuart Dike Copyright 1999

This huge formation was situated high on the surrounding hills of All Cannings on the slopes of Cliffords Hill. The formation was located just below the ancient Hill Fort of Rybury, which is a direct contemporary to Knapp Hill, just a few miles down the road.

The design itself was quickly recognised to be very similar to the works of Maurits Cornelius Escher, who was a Dutch artist, born in 1898 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. The shape itself represents a three sided three dimensional cube, but of course in one dimension. Indeed, this latest event breaks new ground for crop circle design, as it creates an optical illusion to the human eye, when stared at for a period of time.

The works of Escher were considered to be extremely radical at that time in the early twentieth century, and yet he was also brilliant at mathematics, and completely understood the 17 plane symmetry groups described by the know mathematician Pólya. His use of optical illusion perspective became more popular and were shown in many science museums and Art Galleries.

This latest formation is a close representation to his work, and may have some hidden meaning encoded within its geometry. M.C Escher tried to illustrate the concept of infinity within his works, and this particular design creates the illusion of a one dimensional plane, but within the shape itself, we have three dimensional object. Could this be demonstrating that our world view is only seen from one perspective, but underneath, there are other levels of existence? Its an intriguing thought, which I'm sure had an effect on people entering it, it certainly had an effect on myself.

I take many photographs as I walk around a formation, but this particular design complete disoriented me. I was constantly forgetting certain shots that I had taken, and where I had left my equipment. This doesn't normally happen, but this formation felt very powerful as a design, and indeed I think you will agree when you view the aerial images. The  positioning of the design very close to an ancient Hill Fort, and the shape itself, is a powerful combination that can have an effect on the individual. I personally felt this was a possibility.

Report by Stuart Dike

3D CUBE SYMBOL, ALLINGTON DOWN

We then decided to head towards Allington to take a look at the 3D cube symbol. Fortunately i just caught sight of it from the road, as on the way we didn't notice it. It was right near Allington Down , to the top of a field. We parked just inside the private road, but then a farmer's landrover came promptly down so we thought we'd better be prepared for a reprimand. Fortunately, the farmer kindly asked us to park outside the gate so that he could lock it, he did not tell us to keep away from his fields which was good. There was a large family walking in front of us and it was actually quite a long distance to the formation, and it was hot work especially considering it was up to 30c on that day. We had difficulty locating the formation while in the field as it was so vast but then worked out where it was by where the family on the nearby hill were looking.

On entering this formation, i felt a strong energy, and experienced a headache. Looking at the swirls i felt mesmerised, and as with the Sompting formation it felt as if it was moving. What amazed me here was the sheer size of the formation, it was huge compared to the others I had seen. The quality of the crop was also much better, it was hardly damaged and we got the impression that it was fairly new as there weren't many clear footpaths to it. The swirls were laid amazingly, and in some instances the crop underneath the outer coating was in a different direction. Also what interested me was the fact that in this formation some parts were laid with the crops in a straight direction instead of being in a swirl. This creates the 3D effect, but what interested us the most was that the way the colour of the centre part was lighter than the rest, thus creating the 3d effect from above. The crop was laid smoothly and contained little "bubbles" on the stem of the crops (or swelled nodes?) which we found in the Stanton St.Bernard formation which the researcher there said was caused by intense heat. It was difficult to imagine the actual design from above when we were in the formation, indicating that it would be difficult for hoaxers to make it so appear so accurate from above. We later climbed a mound/hill fort? nearby and got a good view south down on the formation. It was amazing how it stood out against the landscape. We also noticed that the main parts of the formation not flattened were in a triangular shape which seemed very symmetrical. I think we were 'behind' the formation as the 3D effect wasn't the same as from above. What interests me most about this formation is that it can be viewed and interpreted in many different ways. At first I saw it as two dimensional but then i saw it as a 3d cube in a circle and then i saw it as un upside down cube in a circle. If you stare at it for a long time it is like Autostereograms (Magic Eye pictures) and you see it in different ways. This design is a personal favourite of mine, as the magic is in the eye of the beholder, you interpret it differently depending on how you see it.

POINTS TO NOTE:

1) Interesting in that in some sections all the lay is in one direction.

2) You don't realise the significance of what you are walking in unless you see it from above. Unusually difficult to visualise the end result on the ground. We then walked the distance back to Allington. Interestingly, as we were leaving, an Italian couple appeared and told us that they were forensic scientists. They held a download from Cropcircleconnector of the formation that we had just visited and asked how to get there. I asked them why they were doing it, but then they didn't understand and told us that they were philosophers to do with the study of crop circles.

Report by Benjamin Compson.

LINKS

Maurits Cornelius Escher (1898-1972)
WorldOf Escher
M.C.Escher homepage
M.C. Escher Optical Illusions and Tessellations
Delirium's Homespace (VRML based on Escher)
Escher's Domain
M. C. Escher's Life

ANTAHKARANA - ANCIENT SYMBOL OF HEALING

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