Centuries or millennia after its creation, the formation still seems sacred because of its apparent function as a temple or astronomical device. The structure has 41 potholes on each side of the circle's center along the east-west axis. It measures the precise outlines of the autumnal equinox (the time when the sun crosses the equator, making night and day equal in duration) and the summer and winter solstices (the northern and southern extremes of the sun's seasonal travel through the sky).

 

Could it be that the time-obsessed Maya or maybe a much older culture carved this astronomical observatory for future memory or to remind us what was sacred to our ancient people? In a January 3, 1999 Miami Herald article, Robert Carr, an archaeologist and director of Miami-Dade Preservation Division, was quoted as saying, "It's like looking into a distant hazy mirror, we've discovered something substantial."

 

Project surveyor T.L. Griggs believes the Maya created this unique circle some 2,000 years ago. Even stranger is the fact that two stone axes, made from basalt, a volcanic material not found in Florida, were found at the site. Volunteers from the Historical Society have said human teeth have been found and the remains of a five-foot shark deliberately buried in the circle.

 

Archeologists say the perfect circle measuring 37.5 feet in diameter, with 24 irregular cut basins, ranging in size from one to three feet, may have an "astronomical purpose" as it has an obvious east-west alignment. Some experts believe the basins depict the images of sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, manatees, shrimp and other marine animals.

Project surveyor T.L. Griggs believes the Maya created this unique circle some 2,000 years ago. Even stranger is the fact that two stone axes, made from basalt, a volcanic material not found in Florida, were found at the site.

The Dade Heritage Trust has set up a fund to save the "Miami Circle." Donations can be sent to 190 SE 12 Ter. Miami, FL 33131 marked "Save Our Circle" or call Becky Roper Matkov at 305- 358-9572.

Beyond mainstream concern about the circle, people who adhere to philosophies that challenge standard theories of human history are now converging on Miami— drawn by the circle. Traditional archaeologists, however, do not put much stock on New Age theories. Carr, the county archaeologist in charge of studies at the site, says the circle is probably 500 to 800 years old—not as old as the pyramids of Egypt or Mexico. Carr said he believes the circle is of Tequesta Indian origin—the site itself is possibly a former Tequesta settlement—and that it may have been inhabited continuously for 2,000 years.

John Ricisak, the dig's field director, said local archaeologists believe the circle to be 500 to 800 years old because of a specific type of pottery found nearby. But Ricisak acknowledged that the circle itself has yet to be dated scientifically.

A parade of movement leaders have traveled to Miami to view the circle, among them is author Graham Hancock, who for more than 10 years has carved a career out of writing books linking ancient ruins like the Egyptian pyramids to an extinct civilization obsessed with time.

Hancock's latest book, Heaven's Mirror (Crown Publishers, Inc., New York), says the ancient monuments were possibly built to track a phenomenon called precession. In its orbit around the sun, the earth's axis wobbles making the sunrise on the eastern horizon change position throughout the year and over centuries. For example, right now—as viewed from earth—the sun rises at the start of every spring near the constellation of Pisces. But about every 72 years, the sunrise precesses backward one degree away from Pisces. Hancock said Wednesday he wants to see if the Miami circle has precessional alignments.

Mainstream experts familiar with the Miami Circle say it may be an astronomical observatory. But they also note it could have been the foundation of a sacred temple with no connection to the stars. Also, mainstream archaeologists do not share the notion of an ancient global stone civilization linking the Egyptians, Incas or Mayans. In addition, the standard view of ancient Egyptian history is that the pyramids were royal tombs—not astronomical monuments.

* * *

THE MIAMI HERALD 9/24/99 - Ancient Axes at Circle Originated from Georgia

Four months of scientific detective work have solved the mystery of two primitive stone axes unearthed at the Miami Circle: The palm-sized tools were produced hundreds of years ago by people who lived in central Georgia. That conclusion supports an intriguing theory that the Circle's site, now part of downtown Miami, was prime commercial property for thousands of years.

Four months of scientific detective work have solved the mystery of two primitive stone axes unearthed at the Miami Circle: The palm-sized tools were produced hundreds of years ago by people who lived 530 miles away in central Georgia.

The discovery by University of Miami geologists provides compelling new evidence that ancient South Floridians -- including those who carved the stone circle or later occupied the site -- maintained robust trade and cultural links with distant tribes.

``Rocks can't fly,'' Christopher Eck, director of the Miami-Dade Division of Historic Preservation, said Thursday. ``The axes had to be traded here from outside the state.''

That conclusion supports an intriguing theory about the Circle's site at the mouth of the Miami River, now part of downtown Miami but clearly prime commercial property for thousands of years:

Long before Europeans arrived, the area most likely served as a port of trade and a manufacturing center for arts and crafts.

``We were not the first to use it as a port,'' said Debra Walker, an adjunct professor at Florida International University and an expert on ancient American cultures. ``These people had the Miami River figured out long before we got here.''

The cascading conclusions and insights are emerging from a coalition of local scientists from several disciplines -- archaeology, geology, cultural anthropology, sociology -- all fascinated by the 38-foot-diameter stone circle and its site.

Now recognized around the world, the Miami Circle was discovered last year as archaeologists examined a 2.2-acre construction site on the south bank of the Miami River, just east of Brickell Avenue.

Amid growing pressure from preservationists and school children, the county seized the land and blocked development of a residential and commercial project. A jury trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 4 to determine the damages that must be paid to the developer.

The origin and purpose of the Circle remains in dispute. Most experts believe it to be hundreds or even thousands of years old. Others, like Walker, are still skeptical, saying it could be a relic of more modern construction.

But a unified theory about the land upon which the Circle sits is beginning to emerge from scientists. Continuously populated for at least 2,000 years, the site apparently served at various times as a ceremonial, social, manufacturing and shipping center.

The latest breakthrough was made by a team of University of Miami geologists led by Jacqueline Dixon, an associate professor. Their task: Determine the origin of two stone axes found in or near the Circle.

Archaeologists gave the team three ax fragments to analyze. Identical to the intact hand axes, the fragments were removed from the area before the disposition of artifacts became one of several legal issues between developer Michael Baumann and local archaeologists.

It was quickly clear to experts that the axes were not produced locally. The reason: The tools were made from basalt, a hard, volcanic rock not found in Florida.

Dixon and students Loretta Leist and Kyla Simons conducted a rigorous physical examination and chemical analysis of two of the fragments. They found that the rocks were formed by small crystals of minerals and contained no ``bubbles'' of trapped gas.

``That was the first clue,'' Dixon said. They also determined that the axes contained tell-tale low levels of titanium, sodium and potassium. Then, they laboriously compiled a chemical data base of 776 basaltic rocks found throughout the Americas and the Caribbean, and compared the chemical composition of the fragments to that data base.

Slowly plotting the results, the researchers were able to pinpoint the origin of the axes to within a few hundred miles. Dixon: ``And the winner is the Piedmont area of Georgia, between Atlanta and Macon, probably very close to Macon.'' Cultural anthropologists know that the area around Macon and the Ocmulgee River was populated 1,000 years ago by a group called the Mississippians because their culture originated in the Mississippi River valley.

Those tribes were known to produce distinctively sturdy tools from the local basalt. The axes found at the Circle cannot be scientifically dated without destroying them, but scientists said that identical axes unearthed in North Florida were produced between 600 and 800 years ago.

Though it is possible that local tribes traded baskets, beads and other products directly with the Mississippians, they more likely did business with groups closer to home that served as intermediaries.

That degree of trade plus the geographic location of the Circle's site -- at the mouth of the Miami River, on the edge of Biscayne Bay, across the river from an ancient thriving village -- implies that the land was used as a port, scientists said.

John Ricisak, field director of the Circle project, said archaeologists also found flakes of flint and other material near the Circle -- but no finished products. That indicates that the area once served as a manufacturing and shipping center.

``The Circle is just one feature that makes the site important, and it may not be the most important, '' Ricisak said. ``Only further excavation and research will determine that. There's a lot left to explore on that site.

On March 9, 1999 the Florida Cabinet and Governor Jeb Bush unanimously approved a motion to take necessary steps to preserve the Miami Circle at its current site. The State of Florida has agreed to partner financially with Miami-Date County, the Native American communities, and other private donors to purchase and preserve this unique archeological discovery!