The traditional Rujm el-Hiri web site, located within the Golan Heights and also known as the “Wheel of Ghosts,” has been re-evaluated, with its long-standing identification as an astronomical observatory coming below scrutiny. Researchers have decided that geodynamic adjustments over hundreds of thousands of years have altered the location’s orientation, elevating questions on its authentic objective. These findings, derived from superior geophysical and distant sensing methods, present a brand new perspective on this enigmatic archaeological construction.
Geophysical Insights Problem Established Theories
In accordance to the research printed in Distant Sensing, geodynamic actions averaging 8–15 millimetres per yr over 150 million years shifted the location’s alignment considerably. Researchers from Tel Aviv College and Ben-Gurion College, led by Dr Olga Khabarova and Prof Lev Eppelbaum, concluded that the construction’s present orientation doesn’t match celestial patterns, contradicting earlier interpretations of its operate. The entrances and radial partitions, when reconstructed to their authentic positions, have been proven to lack alignment with solstices, equinoxes, or different astronomical markers.
Superior Methods Reveal Archaeological Panorama
As reported by SciTech Every day, the researchers employed geomagnetic evaluation and satellite tv for pc expertise to doc the encompassing archaeological options inside a 30-kilometre radius of the Sea of Galilee. Distinctive round buildings, some as much as 90 metres in diameter, have been recognized alongside burial mounds and spherical enclosures. These findings recommend agricultural and herding functions relatively than purely ceremonial or observational roles.
A Broader Perspective on Rujm el-Hiri’s Position
Dr Michal Birkenfeld of Ben-Gurion College emphasised in his assertion to SciTech Every day that this reassessment enriches understanding of historic life within the Golan Heights. The analysis workforce famous that the research reopens debates in regards to the web site’s objective whereas highlighting its integration right into a broader archaeological panorama. By questioning previous assumptions, the research encourages additional exploration of how historic communities interacted with their setting.
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