A crop circle is when the plants (often wheat) in a field are flattened to create a pattern. The pattern ranges from simple circles to very intricate patterns that look amazing from the air. The very first crop circles, discovered in the 1970s, were simple circles, but each passing year sees increasingly complex patterns. They only occur in summer, obviously because this is when farmers grow their crops.
The first crop circles were discovered in Queensland, Australia in 1966. In 1975 farmers discovered crop circles in England. They did not become common public knowledge until the 1980s when the media picked up on the stories.
All sorts of theories were put forward to explain the strange circles, and they ranged from whirlwinds and dust devils to UFOs.
In 1991 a pair of artists called Doug Bower and Dave Chorley revealed that they’d created the initial English circles as a joke. It seems that many of the modern crop circles are part of an elaborate hoax and gangs of people go around making the circles.
But what about this? A 1678 pamphlet, now in the British Museum refers to the appearance of a strange circle in a field of oats in Hertfordshire, Britain. Locals concluded the circles were made by a Mowing Devil who came down from the sky in a chariot of fire to destroy farmers’ crops.
Modern research shows a history of crop circles throughout the ages, which pre-date the hoaxes. A mowing devil or a natural phenomenon? UFOs or a hoax? To date, there has been no conclusive evidence to prove crop circles are made by UFOs or natural occurrences, but it is true that man is responsible for some of them.
I had a little fun with crop circles in Romantic Interlude, which is part of my Talking Dogs series. Here’s a short excerpt:
To Richard’s consternation, heat gathered in his cheeks. “The Women’s Division has set up camp here too?” The dog let out a soft woof that sounded like a question.
His change of subject didn’t work, but then he hadn’t really expected it to. Richard had gone to school with Ted Morrison and they’d been friends ever since. “You’re either sickening for something or you’ve met a woman.” Ted studied him intently and a slow grin bloomed on his weathered face. “It’s a woman.”
“I’d better go and have a closer look at these circles. I presume you’ve got someone stopping the public from walking all over them? Come on, Killer.”
“Strange name for a dog,” Ted said, scrutinizing his friend closely. “You have. It’s a woman!”
“Catch you later,” Richard mumbled, intending to beat a quick retreat.
“That will be five dollars, please.”
Richard came to an abrupt halt. “What?”
Ted held out his hand. “Five dollars admission fee. My wheat crop is damaged. I have to recoup my losses somehow.”
Richard traded stares with Ted and finally gave a grudging nod. He pulled a five-dollar note from his pocket and thrust it at his mate. Probably some smart-assed kids having fun at the town’s expense. All he needed to do was figure out how they’d made the circles and things around Sloan would start to return to normal. He strode the well-trodden path through the wheat field with the dog at his heels.
The buzz of excited chatter told him he was nearing the scene of the crime. Richard brushed past a yellow and orange floral sun umbrella and a crowd of people drinking from paper cups and eating scones. Looked like the Sloan Women’s Division was doing a brisk trade. The dog wandered off to investigate the wheat over near the Women’s Division’s table. He noted most people were walking around the first of the circles, kept behind a yellow tape by Ted’s sons and daughters.
“Keep the line moving,” one of Ted’s sons said in a carrying voice.
Fascinated and wanting to see what all the fuss was about, Richard fell into step, squeezing into a gap between a teenager and a plump elderly woman who was leaning heavily on her walking stick.
The wheat circles were about the diameter of a medium-sized house, but they weren’t completely circular, which made Richard frown. They were more oval than round. Any fool knew crop circles were round. Why would a jokester go to the trouble of playing the elaborate hoax and not do a proper job? Part of the ground was scorched as though a great heat had burned the wheat. Ted was lucky his whole field hadn’t caught fire. The distinctive click of a shutter button made Richard wince and memories of this morning return. He hoped he didn’t find himself on the front page of the Gazette clad only in his boxers. That Marcie Montgomery had a tough, determined streak when it came to her job. And she liked to expose people. Richard hoped it wasn’t him she exposed on the front page tomorrow morning. Richard ducked behind a family to escape the press of bodies. He weaved in and out of the crowds to inspect the other circle. It was pretty much the same but there was a slight impression in the soil as though the force of impact had been greater. Richard didn’t believe in UFOs but he wasn’t sure how the local kids had managed such an elaborate prank.
What do you think about crop circles? Have you ever seen any?
Shelley Munro writes contemporary and paranormal romance for Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. Her Talking Dog series is full of aliens, crop circles and hot lovin’. You can learn more about the three Talking Dog books, read blurbs and excerpts at Shelley’s website www.shelleymunro.com
Sources:
The Paranormal Source Book by Jenny Randles
Guide to the Unexplained by Joel Levy
