@mykkesigler: 📌 Circlestone — Superstition Mountains, Arizona 📍 33°28′39.45″N 111°08′03.52″W Most prehistoric stone architecture in central Arizona is rectangular. Whoever built this one went out of their way to make a circle instead, high on a remote mountainside where almost nobody would ever see it. Hidden among steep slopes and desert vegetation, Circlestone is an unusual circular enclosure constructed from carefully arranged stones. The enclosure occupies a remote mountain setting, surrounded by rocky ridges and rugged terrain, and its unusual architecture has attracted the attention of researchers seeking to understand who built it, when it was constructed, and what purpose it may have served. Among those who devoted considerable attention to the site was Thomas J. Kollenborn, a historian and longtime researcher of the Superstition Mountains, who died in 2018. Another important contributor was Bruce A. Peterson, a professor associated with Mesa Community College. In 2003, Peterson initiated the Circlestone Undergraduate Research Project, which involved students in documenting and mapping the structure using geographic information systems. Various interpretations have been proposed for Circlestone, including possible ceremonial or astronomical functions. However, its precise age, cultural affiliation, and original purpose remain subjects of investigation rather than established facts. The LiDAR imagery provides a remarkable perspective on the site. The circular stone enclosure stands out clearly against the steep mountainside, with its perimeter forming a prominent arc around an interior area containing numerous smaller surface features. The surrounding terrain is equally fascinating, the structure sits along a slope shaped by erosion, with rocky outcrops, natural drainages, and steep changes in elevation immediately beyond its walls. In the satellite imagery, the circular outline is partially visible among the scattered desert vegetation. LiDAR, however, makes the structure’s geometry and relationship to the surrounding topography much easier to appreciate. While the imagery reveals the visible surface form, it can’t independently establish the enclosure’s age or explain the function of its interior features. Was Circlestone a ceremonial gathering place, an astronomical observatory, or a structure serving an entirely different purpose? Whatever its original function, the site remains a fascinating example of the archaeological mysteries preserved within Arizona’s Superstition Mountains. Special thanks to John Pratt for directing me to this remarkable location and sharing additional research resources! #LiDAR #Arizona #phoenix #phoenixaz #mesaaz

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Monday 02 November 2026 17:22:10 GMT