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Adam’s Calendar
"African Stonehenge"
a completely functional, mostly intact megalithic stone calendar
megalithic standing
Adam’s Calendar, located in Mpumalanga, South Africa, is a standing stone circle about 30 meters in diameter.
It is suggested to be among the oldest man-made structure in the world. Sometimes referred to as "African Stonehenge", it predates both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza by tens of thousands of years.
It has been estimated by some accounts to be more than 75,000 years old. Various astronomical alignments have been identified at the site and it is possibly the only example of a completely functional, mostly intact megalithic stone calendar in the world.
A network of stone circles
Scattered throughout the mountains of South Africa are thousands of stone circle ruins. The first estimates of the number of these ruins, made in 1891 by English explorer Theodore Bent, estimated about 4,000. By 1974 the estimate had risen to 20,000. Today, Michael Tellinger, an authority on the subject, has estimated the number of ancient stone ruins to be 100,000 or possibly much higher.
Some of these “stone circles” have no doors or entrances while most are connected by an expansive network of channels This connected grid of circular ruins is immersed in a seemingly never-ending expanse of ancient agricultural terraces surrounding the structures. Adam’s Calendar is considered to be the most famous among these ruins.
source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-africa/adam-s-calendar-oldest-megalithic-site-world-003160
retrieved feb 2023
a functional Stone Calendar
The site is aptly named Adam’s Calendar because the stones are placed to track the movement of the sun, which casts shadows on the rock. It still works perfectly as a calendar today by following the shadow of the setting sun, which is cast by the taller central monolith onto the flat stone beside it. This remarkable calendar was originally a large circular stone structure resembling Stonehenge and in the center of the 'circle' are two upright stones which are said to have been carved. Its original shape is still clearly visible from satellite images. The stones are all dolomite, weighing up to 5 tons each, and are said to have been transported from a distant site. It should be noted that the area surrounding Adam’s Calendar is extremely rich in gold. Several mining shafts, located in Mpumalanga. Not only did attract attention in the 1880’s, but the early evidence of historic civilizations mining for minerals were described in writings by the early Europeans.
Dating the stones circles
According to Tellinger, a calculation done by astronomer Bill Hollenbach based on the rise of Orion suggested an age of the site of at least 75,000 years.A further calculation done in June 2009, suggested an age of at least 160,000 years, based on the rise of Orion 'flat on the horizon' but also on the 'erosion of dolerite stones' found at the site. Some pieces of the marker stones had been broken off and sat on the ground, exposed to natural erosion. When the pieces were put back together about 3 cm of stone had already been worn away. These calculation helped assess the age of the site by calculating the erosion rate of the dolerite.
Dating the stones circles
Adams Calendar, also known as Enkwenkwezi, is a megalithic stone structure located in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. This remarkable ancient monument is believed to be one of the oldest human-made structures in the world, was 'discovered' in 2003.
The Houtbosloop Valley restoration project, situated in the same region as Adams Calendar, has brought to light many ancient stone ruins, most of which are undocumented and not researched. The valley's land restoration activities offer a unique opportunity for the restoration team to identify and plot the extent of these ruins on a map. This would provide a much better understanding of the region's rich history and culture, including the people who lived here before modern times.
The Adams Calendar site is a prime example of the ancient structures that can be found in the Houtbosloop Valley and the wider region. Composed of a circle of standing stones, the site is oriented to the cardinal points of the compass, with a central pillar aligned to the solstices and equinoxes. The stones are not naturally occurring in the area, and their precise positioning and alignment suggest a high degree of skill and intentionality in their construction. It is believed that the site was used as an astronomical observatory, a place for ritual and ceremony, and a marker of time.
Despite its ancient origins, Adams Calendar is still a topic of debate among scholars and researchers. Some have suggested that it may be a remnant of a lost civilization, while others see it as evidence of a shared cultural heritage among ancient peoples. The presence of other ancient structures in the region only adds to the mystery and intrigue of this area, making it a fascinating subject for ongoing research and exploration.
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