Nexus - 1806 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Not for the first time, events actually began outside of England, the core heartland for the majority of complex symbols. It was Krasakan, near Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia, that saw the earliest activity of all, with a complex mandala being discovered in a rice paddy on 23 January, the first of three formations reported there that month. This was followed by a simple circle at Tlapanaloya Tequixquiac, Mexico, on 20 March. The UK Season in Perspective The UK had its first event—albeit with a slightly shaky- looking mandala in rapeseed (canola)—on 22 Apri (encouragingly earlier than 2010's May start) at Innage, near Chepstow in Gwent, Wales, a rare location for crop circles. Just two more would make it into April, the bes' of these being a swirled six-fold floral design, though again a little rough, in rapeseed at Silbury Hill, Wiltshire, England, on 29 April. By the end of May, another eigh designs had appeared, of varying interest, but at this stage voices started to be raised about the perceived lesser quality of the year's designs, with perhaps only the optical trickery of the nested crescents at Hackpen Hill, Wiltshire, on 30 May, coming close to approximating the geometric and aesthetic heights of the phenomenon a its best. A general disappointment with the season thus far allowed the ever-louder voices of a new breed of pro- active sceptics-cum-claimed-circlemakers to begin a campaign of Internet haranguing that would persis hroughout the summer, targeting known researchers one by one with hostile critiques of their beliefs and echniques in threatening tones. An intimation was made by the attackers that they, the cream of the supposed human circlemakers, were on a go-slow this year. Yet this revealed a paradox. A claim regularly heard tom the neo-sceptics is that they "know everyone tha makes the circles"—but their comments in the same breath in the early summer, pouring scorn on the acklustre abilities of their apparent new rivals, made i clear that they do not know, in fact, who or what is responsible for all of the designs. Unfortunately, the 14 UK formations of June, including cartoon snakes and a number of rather wobbly-looking efforts, failed to provide comfort to those awaiting the return of the masterpieces usually seen by this time in previous years, hence the growing speculation tha maybe we were seeing a running-down of the phenomenon from its glory years, its main impetus perhaps spent as the goal of 2012 fast approached. Had the "real" phenomenon really deserted, leaving the fields to amateurs? Others, however, were less sure, pointing to more accomplished works such as the mandala o crescents at Worlaby in Lincolnshire on 18 June and the exotic cross that appeared at Lockeridge, Wiltshire, on 2 June, holding their breath for sequels that would prove the doubters wrong. Finally, in July, a general rise in quality emerged, i Temple Farm, near Rockley, Wiltshire. Reported 7 August. Image: www.cropcircleconnector.com restrained in number compared to many seasons. Although some of the patterns still seemed a little subdued, Lincolnshire again bucked the trend with a neat and striking "flower of life"style formation near Louth on 3 July, while Wiltshire produced optical-effect designs at Milk Hill on 6 July (with an addition made on 9 July) and near Stonehenge on 13 July. This same day (and county) produced two hypnotic, tight double-spirals at the classic site of Windmill Hill, near Avebury Trusloe, and at Mere. It was the later part of July, however, that saw the full- on return of the type of formations that people have, perhaps rather presumptuously, come to expect. Amongst other graphic adventures, complex Wiltshire mandalas of seemingly increasing beauty and technical craft began to arrive: at Overton Down, near Avebury, on 18 July; at East Kennett on 22 July; at Etchilhampton on 25 July (with intriguing, notched "basket weave" edges); and at Windmill Hill once more on 26 July. The return of the snake motif at the end of the month, Windmill Hill, near Avebury Trusloe, Wilts. Reported 13 July. Image: www.cropcircleconnector.com NEXUS ° 61 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2011 www.nexusmagazine.com