Where and how do the crop circles get generated?

Crop circles, which are large geometric patterns of flattened crops, are primarily generated through human activity, although they have often been shrouded in mystery and speculation about extraterrestrial origins.

Location

Crop circles are most commonly found in southern England, particularly in the counties of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, and Gloucestershire. However, they have also appeared in other parts of the world145.

Method of Creation

The creation of crop circles involves several steps and tools:

1. Planning and Design:

   • Crop circle artists often use maps, computers, and sometimes GPS devices to plan and plot their designs. The patterns can range from simple circles to complex geometric shapes35.

2. Choosing the Field:

   • The right type of crop (such as wheat, barley, or rapeseed) and the stage of its development are crucial. The plants need to be at a stage where they can bend without breaking34.

3. Tools and Equipment:

   • Traditional tools include ropes, ladders, planks of wood, and sometimes garden rollers. The plank is typically used with ropes attached to each end, which the creators loop over their shoulders to flatten the crops in a uniform manner134.

4. Execution:

   • The process is usually carried out at night to avoid detection. Creators use the light from the stars or moon and often park their vehicles away from the site to minimize suspicion. They enter the field via existing tractor tracks and paths to disguise their presence345.

5. Measuring and Flattening:

   • Using tape or string, the artists measure out the design. They then flatten the crops by advancing in a shuffling gait, ensuring the stems are bent in a regular pattern. For perfect circles, one end of the plank is anchored to the ground and rotated around that point34.

6. Adding Details:

   • Some crop circles feature additional details such as "grapeshots" or "signatures" – smaller, disjointed circles or raised sections inside the main circles – to add an air of mystery and artistic flair3.

Notable Creators

• Doug Bower and Dave Chorley, who confessed in 1991 to creating over 200 crop circles since the late 1970s, are among the most well-known crop circle creators. Their work was inspired by a 1966 UFO sighting in Australia and was initially intended as a prank145.

In summary, crop circles are generated by human creators using a combination of planning, specific tools, and careful execution, often under the cover of darkness to maintain the mystery surrounding these geometric patterns.