The Ten Best Fractal Crop Circles
Between 1996 and 1999 the crop circle world was fixated by the appearance of fractal-like formations in Wiltshire and Hampshire. They made the press, television and proved to be a massive development in the evolution of the circles.
If you aren’t sure of what a fractal is, the Fractal Foundation describe them as ‘never-ending pattern[s]. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing feedback loop.’
Here are ten of the best with commentary where appropriate…
Chilbolton Observatory, Hampshire (1999)
Photograph by Steve Alexander
Appearing late in the game for the fractal-like circles, this formation has been interpreted as an approximation of the Sierpiniski Gasket (which you can read more about here).
The circle’s unusual appearance in this photograph is a result of the individual barley plants standing back up due to phototropism. This feature is common within circles made in barley, sometimes occurring less than 24 hours after the circle has been created.
West Kennett Longbarrow, Wiltshire (1999)
Photograph by Peter Sorensen
This formation at West Kennett Longbarrow is a very clear representation of a T-Square Fractal. It’s a great circle by itself but has been all but forgotten due to another example of the T-Square that appears in this list.
Silbury Hill, near Avebury, Wiltshire (1997)
Photograph by Steve Alexander
A beautifully made circle that is a very clear take on the Koch Snowflake fractal.
Tawsmead Copse, near West Stowell, Wiltshire (1998)
Photograph by Steve Alexander
A seven fold fractal containing and surrounded by 175 small circles.
Milk Hill, near Alton Barnes, Wiltshire (1997)
Photograph by Steve Alexander
Widely referred to as the ‘Koch Snowflake 2’, the addition of an unflattened central area distinguishes this beautiful Snowflake from its close relative at Silbury Hill (both of which appeared in 1997).
Windmill Hill, near Avebury, Wiltshire (1999)
Photograph by Steve Alexander
Located at Windmill Hill, this circle has been erroneously referred to as ‘The Temple’, suggesting it is reminiscent of the floor layout in a place of worship. It’s also been described as a ‘Knights Templar cross’ although, in reality, it’s the best take on the T-Square Fractal to have put down in a field.
Chute Causeway, nr Tidcombe, Wiltshire (2007)
Photograph by Lucy Pringle
The central star may mean this exquisite formation isn’t a true take on the Koch Snowflake, but its 2007 appearance reminded us of the mid-to-late 90s fractal circles trend. Truly beautiful.
Stonehenge, near Amesbury, Wiltshire (1996)
Photograph by Steve Alexander
Really, what is there left to say about the truly iconic Julia Set circle of 7 July 1996? It’s the crop circle that kicked off the fractal trend in the fields and remains one of the most recognisable formations of all time.
Ickleton, Cambridgeshire (1991)
The 1991 ‘Mandelbrot Set’ fractal circle. Photograph by David Parker.
The very first fractal circle and still one of the very best. It appeared completely out of the blue in Cambridgeshire during 1991 with a form and neatness well ahead of its time. In 2017 cerealogist Michael Glickman described this circle as ‘one of the most important and most carefully crafted formations we have ever had.’ Who can argue with that?
Windmill Hill, near Avebury, Wiltshire (1996)
Photograph by Steve Alexander
It has been genuinely tough to choose the order of the top three fractal crop circles, but the Windmill Hill ‘Triple Julia Set’ comes out as the winner. It beats the others for the manner in which it repeats the original Julia Set into three-fold geometry, producing a formation that is as complex as it is awe-provoking.
