The Big Stone Rings of Jordan and Syria: Ancient Mysteries Etched in the Desert Landscape

For millennia, the arid landscapes of the Middle East have cradled secrets of civilizations long past, whispering tales in the rustling sands and etched onto the silent stones. Among the most perplexing of these ancient enigmas are the Big Stone Rings of Jordan and Syria – colossal, near-perfect circles crafted from rough-hewn boulders, scattered across the desolate terrain. Visible in their entirety only from the vantage point of the sky, these structures have baffled archaeologists and historians for over a century, their purpose and the identity of their builders shrouded in an enduring mystery.

Imagine soaring above the Jordanian and Syrian deserts, the ochre expanse stretching out beneath you like a wrinkled tapestry. As you gain altitude, a pattern begins to emerge – faint circles etched into the landscape, defined by low stone walls, almost blending into the rocky terrain. These are the Big Stone Rings, silent sentinels of a forgotten age, their sheer scale and enigmatic nature sparking endless questions about their origins and significance.

This blog post delves into the captivating world of these ancient stone rings, exploring their discovery, location, design, and the myriad theories attempting to unravel their purpose. Join us as we journey through the deserts of Jordan and Syria, seeking to understand these monumental mysteries left behind by civilizations unknown.

Discovery from the Skies: Unveiling the Circles

The story of the Big Stone Rings begins not on the ground, amidst the sun-baked stones, but in the air. It was in 1920 that Lionel Rees, a British Royal Air Force pilot, first encountered these colossal structures while flying over the deserts of Jordan. From his aerial perspective, the circular outlines became strikingly apparent, prompting him to capture the earliest aerial photographs of these archaeological wonders. These images marked the initial documented discovery of the Big Stone Rings, offering a perspective impossible to grasp from ground level.

Rees's discovery, however, remained largely unnoticed by the archaeological community for nearly six decades. It wasn't until the latter part of the 20th century that these enigmatic circles resurfaced into scholarly attention, largely thanks to the renewed interest and dedicated work of researchers like Professor David Kennedy from the University of Western Australia.

Professor Kennedy, leading the Aerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Middle East (APAAME) project since 1997, and co-directing the Aerial Archaeology in Jordan Project (AAJ), has been instrumental in bringing the Big Stone Rings back into the archaeological spotlight. Through systematic aerial surveys and high-resolution photography, APAAME has meticulously documented these structures, revealing their precise forms and geographical distribution in unprecedented detail. Kennedy's work emphasizes the crucial role of aerial archaeology in uncovering and understanding ancient landscapes, particularly in regions where ground-based surveys are challenging due to remoteness and terrain.

Geographical Footprint: Jordan and Syria

The Big Stone Rings are not solitary anomalies but rather a cluster of structures primarily located in Jordan, with a more recent discovery in Syria. Within Jordan, the majority of these "Big Circles," as they are often called, are concentrated in two main areas:

• West-Central Jordan: Eight of the documented Big Circles are situated in this region, specifically between Wadi el-Hasa, a significant seasonal river valley, and the edge of the Shara escarpment, a prominent geological feature. This area is characterized by its arid, rocky terrain, typical of the Jordanian desert landscape.
• North of Azraq Oasis: A second group of four Big Circles is located to the north of the Azraq Oasis. Azraq, an oasis in the eastern desert of Jordan, has historically been a vital point of settlement and a crucial stop on ancient trade routes. The presence of these rings near such a significant location suggests a potential connection to broader regional dynamics.

Beyond Jordan, a more recent discovery expanded the geographical scope of these structures. In 2002, satellite imagery revealed a Big Circle in Syria, located approximately 10 miles (15.5 km) northwest of Homs, a major city in western Syria. This Syrian circle, designated as S1, shares striking similarities in design and construction with its Jordanian counterparts, hinting at a potentially wider regional phenomenon. Sadly, this Syrian circle, like some in Jordan, has faced destruction due to urban expansion, highlighting the vulnerability of these ancient sites to modern development and conflict.

The geographical distribution of the Big Stone Rings, spanning across Jordan and into Syria, suggests a cultural or functional link across this region in antiquity. The placement in arid, often remote areas, further fuels the mystery surrounding their purpose, as these are not locations typically associated with dense settlements or intensive agriculture.

Design and Construction: Monumental Circles of Stone

The Big Stone Rings are aptly named, not just for their circular shape but also for their impressive dimensions. Ranging in diameter from approximately 220 meters (720 feet) to as large as 455 meters (1,490 feet), the largest of these circles are truly monumental, dwarfing even Olympic running tracks in size.

Despite their grand scale, the construction of these rings is surprisingly simple. They are primarily built from locally sourced, roughly cut boulders and stones, readily available in the desert environment. The walls themselves are relatively low, generally not exceeding a meter (a few feet) in height. From ground level, these low stone walls often appear as little more than piles of rocks, easily overlooked and not immediately revealing their circular form. It is only from an aerial perspective that the intended design becomes undeniably clear.

One of the most striking features of the Big Stone Rings is their near-perfect circularity. While some circles exhibit minor irregularities or "kinks," many demonstrate a remarkable geometric precision, suggesting a deliberate design and a degree of planning in their construction. Professor Kennedy proposes that the builders may have employed a simple yet effective technique to achieve this circular precision: using a long rope tied to a central post as a guide, walking around the pivot point to mark out the circumference as they moved. This method, while rudimentary, would have allowed for the creation of remarkably accurate circles, even on uneven terrain, potentially explaining minor imperfections observed in some rings.

Intriguingly, the Big Stone Rings, in their original form, appear to have lacked any openings or entrances. This means that to enter the enclosed space, individuals would have had to climb or jump over the low stone walls. This design feature has significant implications for understanding their potential function, as it rules out certain practical uses, such as animal corrals, which would typically require designated entry and exit points.

The construction of these circles, while seemingly straightforward in terms of materials and technique, would have been a considerable undertaking. Even with simple methods, the sheer scale of the structures and the need for a degree of geometric precision suggest a coordinated effort, potentially involving a dozen or more workers for each ring, and a designated "architect" to oversee the design and layout.

Whispers of Time: Dating the Undatable

Determining the age of the Big Stone Rings has proven to be a significant challenge for archaeologists. Direct dating of the stone structures themselves is often impossible, and the arid desert environment generally yields few datable organic materials within the immediate vicinity of the rings.

Despite these challenges, archaeological investigations and analysis of associated artifacts have provided some clues regarding the potential age range of these structures. Evidence suggests that the Big Stone Rings are at least 2,000 years old, with some material found in and around the circles dating back to the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age (approximately 4,500 to 2,000 BC). Furthermore, some circles contain later materials, typically associated with the Roman period (1st to 7th century AD).

The presence of Roman-era materials is particularly intriguing, as it indicates that the circles were in existence, and perhaps still in use or considered significant, during Roman times. Notably, at least two of the Big Circles are intersected by Roman roads, providing a terminus ante quem – a point in time before which the circles must have been constructed. One circle, for instance, is demonstrably older than a Roman road dated by milestones to 208-210 AD.

However, the earlier Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age materials hint at an even more ancient origin, potentially pushing the construction of the Big Stone Rings back into prehistoric times, before the advent of writing in the region. This possibility is particularly tantalizing, as it would place the circles among the oldest monumental structures in the Middle East, predating many well-known archaeological sites.

The dating evidence, while still somewhat ambiguous, suggests a long history for the Big Stone Rings, spanning millennia and potentially encompassing multiple cultural periods. The lack of definitive dating, however, remains a significant obstacle in fully understanding their context and purpose.

Purpose: Decoding the Desert Circles

The most compelling mystery surrounding the Big Stone Rings is their purpose. What function did these monumental circles serve for their builders? Despite decades of research, no definitive answer has emerged, and archaeologists continue to grapple with various theories, none of which fully explain all aspects of these enigmatic structures.

Several hypotheses have been proposed, ranging from practical to symbolic interpretations:

• Animal Corrals: One of the earliest and most intuitive theories suggested that the Big Stone Rings were used as animal enclosures or corrals. However, this theory has largely been dismissed due to several factors. The low height of the walls would not have been sufficient to contain most livestock effectively. Furthermore, the absence of openings or internal structures typically associated with animal management, and the geometrically precise circular shape, which is unnecessary for corrals, argue against this practical function.

• Burial Sites: The discovery of cairns (rock piles) within or on the edges of some circles has led to the suggestion that they may have been related to burial practices. One circle, in particular, contains three cairns on its perimeter. However, archaeologist David Kennedy suggests that these cairns are likely later additions, built when the original purpose of the circles was no longer relevant. Furthermore, the sheer size and uniformity of the circles seem disproportionate for individual or even collective burial sites.

• Markers or Territorial Boundaries: Given their visibility from a distance, particularly from elevated viewpoints, it has been proposed that the Big Stone Rings may have served as territorial markers or boundary indicators. In a landscape with limited natural landmarks, these large, conspicuous circles could have visually demarcated tribal territories, resource control zones, or other significant spatial divisions. However, the lack of clear internal features and the effort involved in their construction seem somewhat excessive for simple boundary markers.

• Astronomical Observatories or Ritual Spaces: The precise circularity of some rings, and the potential for astronomical alignments inherent in circular structures, have led to speculation that they may have been used for astronomical observations or ritualistic ceremonies. The Syrian circle, studied before its destruction, was noted to be positioned to offer a panoramic view of a nearby basin, potentially supporting an astronomical or observational function. However, concrete evidence for astronomical alignments or ritualistic practices within the circles remains elusive.

• Symbolic or Social Gatherings: In the absence of clear practical functions, some researchers suggest that the Big Stone Rings may have served a primarily symbolic or social purpose. They could have been gathering places for communities, sites for social rituals, or monumental expressions of collective identity and territorial claims. The construction effort itself could have been a significant social act, reinforcing group cohesion and shared purpose.

• No Practical Purpose – Purely Symbolic: Perhaps the most intriguing, and frustrating, possibility is that the Big Stone Rings had no direct practical function in the conventional sense. They may have been built for reasons that are deeply embedded in the belief systems and social structures of their creators, serving purposes that are now opaque to modern archaeological interpretation. Like the Nazca Lines in Peru or other enigmatic ancient earthworks, the Big Stone Rings could represent a form of monumental art, a symbolic expression, or a ritual landscape whose meaning is lost to time.

Despite these diverse theories, the purpose of the Big Stone Rings remains firmly within the realm of mystery. Archaeologists emphasize the need for further research, particularly ground-based excavations within and around the circles, to uncover more definitive evidence that might shed light on their function.

The Enduring Mystery and Significance

The Big Stone Rings of Jordan and Syria stand as compelling testaments to the enduring mysteries of the ancient world. Their monumental scale, precise design, and enigmatic purpose continue to captivate researchers and ignite the imagination. Like other aerial archaeological wonders, such as the Nazca Lines, they remind us that the past holds secrets that are not always readily apparent, requiring new perspectives and innovative approaches to unravel.

The significance of the Big Stone Rings lies not only in their archaeological puzzle but also in what they reveal about the ingenuity and complexity of ancient societies in the Middle East. Even without definitive answers, the circles prompt us to consider the diverse motivations and cultural practices of past peoples, challenging our assumptions about practicality and purpose in monumental constructions.

Furthermore, the Big Stone Rings serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of archaeological heritage. The destruction of some circles due to modern development and conflict underscores the urgent need for preservation efforts and increased awareness of these vulnerable ancient sites. Aerial archaeology, as championed by Professor Kennedy and APAAME, plays a crucial role in documenting and monitoring these structures, providing essential data for future research and conservation.

As research continues, and as new technologies offer fresh perspectives, perhaps the secrets of the Big Stone Rings will gradually yield to understanding. For now, they remain as silent, enigmatic circles etched upon the desert landscape, inviting us to contemplate the enduring mysteries of the past and the boundless depths of human history.