CROP CIRCLES IN 1999

Aerial Photo by: Michael Hubbard

NEW SUSSEX FORMATION (Sussex 1999/08)

Found at: Plumpton, Nr Lewes, East Sussex

Date: 6th August 1999

Description: Two single ringed circles and one double ringed circle in a line.

Crop: Barley

Aerial Photo by: Michael Hubbard

Surveyed by: Andy Thomas

Report: Spotted from the air by Michael Hubbard in his microlight on 8th August, this simple line of ringed circles had clearly been there for some weeks by the state of the flattened crop and lay at the northern foot of the South Downs, near the beauty spot of Blackcap. Although the field runs directly adjacent to the B2116 just east of the turn-off to Plumpton Green, the formation was barely visible from the road and could only be discerned when you knew where to look.

The double ringed circle was 43' (including the two 2' and 4' wide rings), a 10' gap then led to the middle 29' single-ringer (ring width: 2' 5") and a 14' gap to the end 35' single-ringer (ring width: 3'). The total length of the formation was 130'.

Curiously, or rather suspiciously, depending on how you wish to look at it, the spine of the three ringed circles was placed on a little-used footpath which crosses the field. Given that it has been suggested before that any descending force might naturally align to a gap in the field (ie. tractor lines, hence their use as central spines occasionally), it's interesting to note that the tramlines in this field were very overgrown and almost invisible, so instead it's the footpath which has attracted the circles. Make of this what you will.

There was no discernible swirl direction by the time the circles were surveyed probably due to their age and the fact that the barley was very ripe, low and rather scrappy in the first place. Though it can hardly be described as formation of the century, there was a very serene, beautiful atmosphere to the field and its surroundings.

Report by ANDY THOMAS for Southern Circular Research

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