NOT crop circles

On this site I have been consistently careful about what would and would not count as a crop circle. We are dealing always with flattened plants, in geometrical shapes. However in the crop circle literature generally, there are other cases, which we would not wish to include. Below are some you may hear about, which we do not consider to be crop circles, given the evidence.

We feature these here for guidance to the reader.

EVENLODE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE - 1960

This case has been discussed in the literature (eg by Randles and Fuller) and the original report describes concentric rings pressed a couple of centimetres into grass.

The photo, left, shows the scene. We do not believe this should be categorised with the usual crop circles.

CAMROSE, ALBERTA - 1967

This case is odd, and was listed in the so-called Condon Report.

There were several marks found at the scene, like the one shown left, which appeared close together. We don't know what these markings are.

WHIPPINGHAM, ISLE OF WHIGHT - 1967

This has also been discussed in the literature. Essentially the case consists of a random string of damage to crops in little patches, like the one shown left, running down the edge of a field.

This is clearly weather damage, as areial photos confirm.

CRADLE HILL, WILTSHIRE, CIRCA 1970

This 'triangle' was published in books by Arthur Shuttlewood, and is sometimes cited as an early crop circle.

The image shown here is the best known - other photos taken at the time show no definite shape, and the generally triangular nature of this 'formation' is a chance effect. Other photos taken nearby, of other such depressions, are clearly wind damage.

DRAGUIGNAN, FRANCE, 1971

Reported melodramatically as a UFO landing spot, this indistinct region of flattened grass has also been described as a crop circle at times.

You can review one of the photos, left, and draw your own conclusions. Other images show the grass splayed outwards, not swirled, and with no clear edges.

historic old crop circles - random evidence