Unveiling the Secrets of the Ancient ‘Stonehenge of the East’: Why This 5,000-Year-Old Marvel is Drifting

Rujm el-Hiri, an ancient basalt formation located in the Golan Heights, approximately 16 kilometers to the east of the Sea of Galilee, has been shifting tens of meters since its establishment nearly 5,000 years ago. For many years, researchers have contemplated the cause of the peculiar movement as well as the intent behind the monument, which is also referred to as the ‘Stonehenge of the East’.

Following years of enigma, scientists may have finally discovered an explanation. According to a research published in the journal Remote Sensing, the tectonic plates surrounding the Golan Heights shift between 0.3 and 0.6 inches annually, which implies that Rujm el-Hiri has moved 131 feet (nearly 10 meters) in the past 4,000 years, significantly altering the alignment of the stone formation.

“Examination reveals that since the entire area has rotated over millennia, Rujm el-Hiri’s location has moved from its original point by tens of meters throughout the thousands of years of the object’s existence,” the research emphasized.

Before this study, hypotheses suggested that the stone circle served as an ancient astronomical observatory. To validate this theory, the researchers recreated the celestial map and aligned the trajectories of cosmic occurrences and celestial bodies that would have been observable between 3,500 BC and 2,500 BC, comparing them to the current structure of the monument.

Upon reviewing the data, scientists discovered that the layout of the monument’s entrances and radial walls during this historic timeframe was “completely distinct from what it is today”.

“This signifies that the present positioning of the radial walls and entrances was not the same as in 4000-2000 B.C., and the theory that they were oriented towards historical celestial objects is not corroborated.”

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‘A sophisticated structure’

Satellite observations revealed that Rujm el-Hiri contains burial mounds, linear stone barriers, and circular “flower-like” enclosures, indicating that the monument is not merely an isolated artifact, but part of a complicated web of ancient constructions.

Since its uncovering in 1968, Rujm el-Hiri has piqued the interest of archaeologists. The structure consists of 42,000 basalt stones reaching up to 2.5 meters in height, arranged in concentric circles alongside smaller formations displaying similar design principles. It features an outer circle measuring 150 meters.

The researchers assert that further excavation of specific elements in and around Rujm el-Hiri is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the motives behind the significant investment in the monument.