As a result of geodynamic shifts in the Rojam el Khiri area - the ground in the area rotated, so it is unlikely that the ancient site was used as an observatory
A new study by Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Universities in the Negev reveals new and sensational discoveries about the famous Rojam al-Khiri (ghost wheel) site in the Golan Heights: according to the research findings, from a geomagnetic analysis and tectonic reconstruction carried out by the researchers, it appears that following a geodynamic shift lasting about 150 million years, with an average speed of 8-15 mm per year, the land in the entire area moved Sharp shifts that caused it to turn and change its direction over the millennia. Therefore, this finding undermines the accepted theory in science according to which the structure was used as an observatory, since the directions of the walls and entrances in their original location do not correspond to the observations of the stars as the scientists believed in the past.
The team of researchers: "As a result of a geodynamic shift that lasts about 150 million years, with an average speed of 8-15 mm per year - the ground in the entire area underwent sharp shifts. The directions of the walls and the entrances in their original location do not match the observations of the stars as the scientists believed in the past"
The research was conducted under the leadership of the team of researchers, led by Dr. Olga Khabarova and Prof. Lev Applebaum from the Department of Geophysics at Tel Aviv University, in collaboration with Dr. Michal Birkenfeld from the Department of Archeology at Ben-Gurion University and was published in the prestigious journal Remote Sensing.
Change place, change luck
As part of the research, the team of researchers used geophysical methods and remote sensing techniques that showed that in light of the movement of the ground, the current location of Rojam al-Khiri is different from its original location throughout the thousands of years of its existence. As mentioned, this find challenges the theories and raises questions about the possibility of identifying it as an observatory. The team conducted preliminary mapping and documentation of the archaeological landscape in the 30-kilometer area around Lake Kinneret and visually analyzed the area to identify typical landscape features associated with historical human activities and the recovery of archaeological objects.
The team of researchers: "The research was based on the calculations of the map of the sky and the adjustment of the directions of the solstice, the equinox, and other celestial bodies as they appeared between 2500-3500 BC, in coordination with the symmetry and the entrances of Rojam al-Hiri in its current location. The findings of the study show that the entrances and walls The radials in that historical period were completely different, which renews the question about the purpose of the construction of Rojam al-Khir".
Beyond that, the study presents for the first time a comprehensive mapping of the archaeological landscape surrounding the circular site, using advanced satellite technology. In this framework, unique landscape features were identified, including circular buildings with a diameter of 40-90 meters, thick walls, and circular fences with a diameter of about 20 meters, which seem to have been used for agricultural activities or for grazing sheep. Also, dozens of burial mounds (tumuli) were recorded in the area, some of which were apparently also used for warehouses, shelters or residences, beyond their traditional role as burial sites.
The researchers conclude: the new study not only opens a window to understanding Rojam al-Hiri, but also enriches our understanding of ancient life in the Golan Heights and the connections between the various archaeological finds in the area.
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