NAICCR Report - Crop Circles in 1991

Magazine Overview

This document is a report titled "NORTH AMERICAN CROP CIRCLES AND RELATED PHYSICAL TRACES REPORTED IN 1991", conducted by the North American Institute for Crop Circle Research (NAICCR) and published in February 1992. It serves as a comprehensive study of unusual ground markings (UGMs) and associated phenomena observed in North America during the year 1991.

Introduction and Methodology

The study builds upon previous efforts, with the 1990 NAICCR report having been widely circulated. The principle guiding data collection is the open exchange of information among researchers. However, the report notes a practical challenge: relatively few researchers respond with data, and the quality and style of investigations vary considerably, making comparative studies difficult. Information is often gathered from second-hand sources like newsletters, magazines, and media reports, which can limit the data's usefulness. The report acknowledges that some individuals claiming expertise may lack the necessary background, leading to unscientific claims. The field is further complicated by different "camps" of thought, including vortex theorists, UFO adherents, and skeptics. An objective presentation of raw data is deemed essential for a more complete understanding.

Results of the 1991 Study

As of January 1, 1992, 87 UGMs were reported in North America, originating from 37 distinct locations. These included "crop circles" as well as "saucer nests," "burn marks," and "landing traces." The report lists 14 categories for UGMs, though in 1991, only seven were represented: Flattened Circle (FC), Flattened Ring (FR), Stunted Growth (SG), Vegetation Missing (VM), Vegetation Dead (VD), Yellowing of Grass (YG), and Other (OT). The classification system is not mutually exclusive. A significant challenge in tabulation is the lack of standardization in counting, with some researchers counting individual features and others counting sites. The report notes that the number of UGMs in 1991 was similar to 1990, which could suggest a continuing phenomenon.

Of the 87 total UGMs, 39 (45%) were in Canada and 48 (55%) were in the United States. The site distribution was 16 (43%) in Canada and 21 (57%) in the United States, a distribution similar to 1990. A table details the distribution of UGMs and sites by state/province, with Alberta, Canada, reporting a significant number of cases (34 UGMs, 11 sites) after having none in the previous year. Illinois, USA, also reported a high number (32 UGMs, 4 sites).

Distribution and Characteristics

There was an uneven distribution of UGMs across North America in 1991. A statistical difference was noted in the direction of swirl for crop circles: 25 (76%) were counterclockwise and 8 (24%) were clockwise. Most swirled UGMs were in Canada, and all reported swirls were in flattened circles. The report provides tables detailing UGMs by crop and country, showing that grass was the most common crop affected in the US (19 UGMs), while wheat was predominantly affected in Canada (23 UGMs). Other crops affected included corn, barley, soybeans, and mustard. A separate table breaks down UGMs by type, with Flattened Circle being the most common (58 cases), followed by Hole (6 cases).

The average diameter of UGMs reported in 1991 was 7.19 meters (primary axis) and 6.94 meters (secondary axis), averaging 7.06 meters. This is smaller than the 1990 average of 10.7 meters. The report cautions that the provided data does not include investigations or conclusions regarding the causes of these features, and researchers are advised to verify the accuracy of the reports themselves.

The first "agriglyph" or "pictogram" in North America was recorded in 1991 near Coalhurst, Alberta. This feature was spectacular, covering a wide area with circles, corridors, and an "F" figure, and received considerable media attention. Other sites with circles joined by corridors were also noted.

Physical and Physiological Effects

The report addresses the question of physical or physiological effects at UGM sites. Claims include electronic interference, eerie energy, and malfunctioning electronic devices. However, these effects were not consistent and were not experienced by all witnesses. Some sites were alleged to have radioactivity above normal levels, but spectroscopic analyses of samples yielded inconsistent or negative results.

The Bower/Chorley Hoaxes

The report discusses the Bower/Chorley hoax admission in 1991, where two individuals claimed to have been hoaxing crop circles in England for years. This admission led some to believe that all crop circles could be explained as hoaxes, a view supported by the fact that many hoaxers have been caught. The report suggests that up to 75% of all crop circles discovered might be hoaxes.

Other Explanations and Challenges

Beyond hoaxes, the report considers other possible explanations for UGMs, including meteorological phenomena (wind or vortex effects), UFOs, soil/crop pathological phenomena, and manmade effects (e.g., secret weapons tests). It emphasizes that the existence of extraterrestrial life is accepted by researchers, but there is no incontrovertible evidence of their visitation to Earth. The report concludes that the causes of crop circles likely involve more than one category.

Investigating UGM cases in North America presents significant challenges due to the vast geographical area, requiring extensive travel for unfunded investigators. This contrasts with the more concentrated areas of investigation in Britain. The report stresses the need for more data-sharing and co-operation between researchers across North America. It encourages researchers to examine the presented data and develop their own interpretations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this report are the systematic collection and analysis of UGM data, the exploration of various potential causes (hoaxes, natural phenomena, extraterrestrial activity), and the practical challenges of conducting research across North America. The editorial stance is one of objective data presentation, acknowledging the limitations of the information and encouraging further independent research and interpretation by the scientific community. The report aims to provide a foundation for understanding the phenomenon by presenting raw data and discussing various hypotheses without definitively concluding on the cause of any specific UGM.

This document is an issue of the "UFO Newsclipping Service," specifically issue number 11, focusing on an "Annotated Listing of North American UGMs Reported in 1991." It functions as a catalog of unexplained ground phenomena observed in North America during that year.

Annotated Listing of North American UGMs Reported in 1991

The core of the document is a detailed, numbered list of 37 reported incidents of Unidentified Ground Markings (UGMs) from various locations across North America, primarily Canada and the United States. Each entry includes:

• Number and Date: A unique identifier and the date of the report (e.g., 910316 for March 16, 1991).
• Location: The specific town, city, province, or state where the UGM was found.
• Description: A detailed account of the phenomenon, including its shape, size, characteristics (e.g., flattened vegetation, holes, rings), and any associated effects or observations.
• Source: The publication or organization that reported the incident, often including the names of reporters or investigators.

Key Incidents and Observations:

• Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia (910316): A ring 12 inches wide and 30 feet in diameter was found in a grassy field. A compass spun rapidly outside the ring but not inside, and dowsing rods crossed at the center. Agricultural specialists could not identify a cause.
• Indianapolis, Indiana (910500): A large semicircular pattern, described as 'about the size of a small house,' was found in tall grass, lying flat. No tracks or entry evidence were found.
• Tulsa, Oklahoma (910515): A swirled, circular area was reported in a field near a private school.
• Dandridge, Tennessee (910518): A 28-foot diameter circular ring of grass was found 'mashed' and swirled clockwise. Cattle reportedly shied away from the area, and one witness developed a rash. High radiation levels were reported, though tests could not confirm this. A UFO was filmed in the vicinity two months prior.
• Florida (910600): Six reports detailed smooth-sided, circular, flat-bottomed holes appearing overnight in fields. These were distinct from sinkholes, with no tracks or evidence of digging.
• Fargo, Oklahoma (910616): Three 'giant rings' were found in rye fields where vegetation had died. An investigator detected 'unusual energy patterns' using dowsing rods.
• Charlotte, North Carolina (910808): Numerous circles of flattened vegetation were observed after a period of storms, though meteorologists doubted weather was the cause. Plants began recovering quickly.
• Atlanta, Georgia (910816): Three circles were found in a grassy field. One had a concentric ring, and plants were interwoven in a spiral pattern. Unusual objects, including a mutilated bird and a circuit board, were found near one circle.
• Lethbridge, Alberta (910821): A group of four crop circles were found in a field, with three linked by corridors. Investigators found no firm evidence of hoaxing.
• Argonne, Illinois (911000): At least 10 swirled and depressed circles were found on river islands, some exceeding 100 feet in diameter. Higher-than-normal radiation levels were detected.
• Kansas (910900): An 'agriglyph' was reported in a wheat field, with claims that military investigators destroyed it before civilian examination.

Coding Key for UGM Data

A significant portion of the document is dedicated to explaining a 'Coding Key for UGM Data.' This section details the system used to categorize and record information about each UGM. It includes codes for:

• Date: A 6-digit format (YR/MO/DA).
• Site: Geographical location.
• Region: State or Province (2-digit code).
• Country: US or CN.
• Number: The count of UGMs at a site.
• Crop: Codes for various crops (e.g., BY for Barley, CN for Corn, GR for Grass, RY for Rye, SY for Soybeans, WH for Wheat).
• Type: Codes for UGM types (e.g., RC for Burned Circle, FC for Flattened Circle, FR for Flattened Ring, HO for Hole, OT for Other, SG for Stunted Growth, VD for Vegetation Dead, VX for Vegetation Kissing, YG for Yellowed Grass).
• Swirl: CC for CounterClockwise, CV for Clockwise.
• Diam1 & Diam2: Diameter of the UGM in meters.
• Width: Width of a ring in meters.
• Other: Miscellaneous comments, including codes for animal reactions (A), corridors (C), dowsed (D), explained (E), proven hoax (I), insufficient data (I), physiological effects (P), radiation detected (R), samples taken (S), tests performed (T), UFO sighted (U), and wind effects (W).

This coding system is illustrated with an example entry (910827 Okotoks, AL) and further elaborated in tables on subsequent pages, which provide a tabular summary of all reported UGMs with their corresponding codes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the documentation and cataloging of unexplained aerial phenomena manifesting as ground markings. The editorial stance appears to be one of objective reporting, presenting the data as collected from various sources without explicit endorsement or dismissal of the phenomena's origins. The inclusion of the detailed coding key suggests a systematic approach to data collection and analysis within the field of UGM research. The document aims to provide a comprehensive record for researchers and enthusiasts interested in these events.

This document is an excerpt from a publication, likely a magazine or a case file collection, focusing on UFO phenomena. The specific item presented is a single page containing a diagram and identifying information for a particular case.

Case File 910831: Coalhurst, AL

The page is identified by the number "910831" and the location "Coalhurst, AL". This suggests it is a record of a UFO sighting or related event that occurred on August 31, 1991, in or near Coalhurst, Alabama.

Diagrammatic Representation

The central feature of the page is a line drawing. This diagram consists of several interconnected circular shapes of varying sizes, linked by straight and curved lines. Some lines are dashed, suggesting a possible connection or a different type of relationship between elements. At the top left, there is a more angular, open structure that might represent a frame or a component of a larger system. The overall impression is that of a schematic, possibly illustrating the configuration of an unidentified aerial object, a formation of objects, or a landing site.

Limited Information

Beyond the case number, location, and the diagram, the provided scan offers no further textual details about the incident itself. There are no descriptions of the object's appearance, behavior, witness accounts, or any analysis of the event. The information is purely visual and identifying.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The excerpt points to a focus on documenting and presenting specific UFO cases, likely with an emphasis on visual evidence such as diagrams. The editorial stance, based on this single page, appears to be one of factual reporting and archival of UFO-related data. The presentation is straightforward, providing essential identifiers for the case.