|
 STUART DIKE/MARK
FUSSELL |
Updated Tuesday 23rd June 1996
SILBURY HILL, NR AVEBURY, WILTSHIRE.
Report by Steve Alexander & Karen Douglas
Date of formation - 1.5.96
Date of visit - 2.6.96
Crop Height - 3ft 1in
Circle diameter - 82.8ins
Damage to Formation Plants.
Apart from the obvious surface damage, there appeared to be very little damage to stem bases. I took a sample of a bent 1st node.
There was some buckling of surface stems, due possibly to trampling by visitors - very little crushing apart from well trampled areas.
Nodal bending was visible of 3rd Nodes - this was observed on crop right underneath the lay. Recovery was well underway on top layers even after just 36 hrs or so. No nodal swelling or expulsions found.
Floor Pattern Details.
The centre swirl was considerably trampled - so it was impossible to make accurate observations. No standing stems were visible. Some plants were now recovering, but they weren't flattened in the first place, just gently pushed over.
General Comments
Formation had very neat edges. Swathing was visible around the outer edges of the design.
A large hole was found at the centre of the formation approx. 8 inches deep. Was this made by researchers surveying the formation? We also found stems that were 2 inches or so into the standing crop had slight bends at nodes 1 and 2, whereas node 3 was absolutely straight.
Very interestingly a patch of crop found in the formation exhibited effects like found at Birling Gap, Sussex 1994. A small area of the flattened crop appeared bent over, and weaved into the rest of the formation in a nest-like patch.
No compass anomalies were noted.
Discussion
It was later discovered that 6 more holes had been found in this formation, leading some to decide that this formation had been man made. The small Birling Gap effect and nodal bending inside the standing crop however, are interesting details to be considered; and on the whole this was a pleasing Crop Circle, visually and aesthetically.
Addendum.
1. Researcher Stuart Dike visited this formation on 1.6.96 lunch time, and said that he had seen no holes on his visit to the formation, indicating that the holes were a later addition by an unknown agency.
2. A further formation - rough spiral - appeared further down the field on 1.6.96/2.6.96 - approx. same size.
