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  DUMBBELL DELIGHTS AT KNOLL DOWN!

It took a long time, but finally we managed to catch this wonderful small classic Dumbbell, at its delightful location close to Knoll Down, and what a find it turned out to be! Once again the Circle makers have gifted us with a trip down memory lane, for all the long standing “Croppies” who were at the start of it all back in the early nineties.   

Image Stuart Dike Copyright 2001

Knoll Down, is a small copse of trees, situated high above the Gallops, only a quarter of a mile from Beckhampton, but it is a place of fascination for many people who visit the Avebury area. The trees I believe are shielding a place of strong Earth energies, as there have been many dowsers who have confirmed it is a Ley centre. Many people seem to be drawn to this particular place, but this year there is another reason why this location is so special. Placed in the Wheat field directly below the trees, but slightly further along towards the Wessex Ridgeway, is a wonderful small Dumbbell, with many characteristics of similar shapes from the 1990 and 1991 seasons.

“These historical shapes are in a way telling us that they do not need to have a prominent position within the landscape”

 Many people can probably remember my enthusiastic reporting on another exquisite Dumbbell back in 2000, along the Avebury Avenue.  This latest design is very similar, and equally as dramatic in location, but both of them shared a common link, which I feel is very important in understanding the phenomenon. These historical shapes, are in a way telling us that they do not need to have a prominent position within the landscape, in view of everybody.  Their elusive, remote locations are to signify that the smaller, less exotic shapes are just as powerful as their larger cousins on the hillsides around the immediate area. But their quieter positions in the landscape are also connected to the whole experience, giving the viewer a greater understanding of the message they are conveying to us.

It really is quite breathtaking this location, and has in my opinion captured the whole essence of crop circling. 

The Dumbbell’s position set high along the Wessex Ridgeway, results in commanding views over Yatesbury Field, with Windmill Hill, as a dramatic backdrop. It really is quite breathtaking this location, and has in my opinion captured the whole essence of crop circling. “This is what its all about” I said, as we entered the formation. I really do defy anyone, not to be moved by its location close to Knoll Down, and no doubt the copse, and its mysterious location beneath the trees, is adding to the atmosphere of the place. 

The formation itself was fairly small, compared to many of the most celebrated Dumbbell’s throughout the years, but the famous saying “Size doesn’t matter” is very true in this case!   Its small dimensions, makes it a very personal and manageable experience, to the more unworldly designs, in the vicinity. The design was nearly 

two weeks old, when we finally entered the formation, after endless searches for it, yet it is only a few hundred yards from the main road leading from Calne to Beckhampton.

“Another classic characteristic of this shape, is its position in relation to the tramlines”   

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Image Stuart Dike Copyright 2001

 Its age certainly hasn’t made it difficult to bring you this report. Not many people have actually entered the shape, so it has stayed intact, with two wonderful, but diverse centres in the main circles, which were exactly the same, as the day they were created. One very unusual feature to this Dumbbell, are the two small arcs on the tips of the crescent around the top circle. We haven’t seen that before, but they remain completely separated from the crescent, with no hint of anyone disturbing the crop.  But another classic characteristic of this shape, is its position in relation to the tramlines, as many recorded Dumbbells, especially from the early days of crop circling, were set off at an angle, very similar to Knoll Down. This is a feature, which is important for the circle making process, and certainly confirms in my eyes, that the phenomenon does take into account the tramlines, when transition takes place within the field. If the Dumbbell was placed directly parallel with the tramlines, the design would be lost, but we also have to consider that the slight angle is possibly important in other ways, which at the moment we don’t understand.

The very small number of people, who had found the formation, has also kept the plants pretty much as they were on day one!    

Image Stuart Dike Copyright 2001

The floor pattern itself, was very impressive, and considering its age, was very surprising to see. Normally we have to contend with plants rising rapidly toward the sun, after two weeks, but the plants very mysteriously are still fairly flat, in what is still an immature part of the plants life. The very small number of people, who had found the formation, has also kept the plants pretty much as they were on day one!  The head circle with the surrounding crescent had an anticlockwise rotation, as well as the surrounding crescent.  In the centre, there was an exquisite sunburst, with the plants lying on top of a layer underneath, flowing in unison with the circle.

 The connecting bar between the two sections of the formation, was flowing towards the top circle, but was only a few feet in width, which is very narrow for this type of shape.  The bottom part of the formation, with its outer ring, was almost exactly the same width as the bar, flowing in an anticlockwise rotation, but the inner circle had a clockwise spiral, with a small standing centre, with the plants leaning up against their standing neighbours. The overall quality of the floor lay was very good, with no signs of heavy mechanical pressure, or bruising on the plants. 

I would really love to see more of these smaller designs, as they have a certain charm to them, which is different to the larger more impressive shapes. A worthy Dumbbell indeed, in a wonderful location! 

Report by Stuart Dike