Stone balls of Costa Rica

In 1940, the United Fruit Company began clearing the tropical jungle in Costa Rica, in the delta of the Diquois River. During the works mysterious stone balls of Costa Rica were discovered. In total, 44 stone balls were found in this area. They differed significantly in size: from a sphere as big as an orange to a giant weighing 16 tons and a diameter of about 2 m. Most of them were made of granite. More stone balls were found in other parts of the country, including on the tops of the hills of the island of Camaronal and almost at the kilometer top of Brookuen in the Cordilleras. In total throughout the territory of Costa Rica, hundreds of these stone balls have been discovered.

In 1940, the United Fruit Company began clearing the tropical jungle in Costa Rica, in the delta of the Diquois River. During the works mysterious stone balls of Costa Rica were discovered

Fig.1. Giant stone balls of Costa Rica.

The granite deposit, closest to the location of the Costa Rican balls, is located at a distance of 80.5 km from it, which led archaeologists to assume that the stone balls were the work of more than one master. Perhaps, they were made from large coarse boulders by heating and abrupt cooling: the stone was coated with burning coal, and then poured with icy water, which, as is known, results in the detachment of the upper layer. The resulting rough sphere was cut off and hammered with a hammer until an almost perfect ball appeared which was then polished. And all this was done using only stone tools.

Dating of Costa Rica stone balls turned out to be difficult, and The answer was obtained only by studying other archaeological finds found next to each stone. Exploring the fragments of ceramics and gold objects found there, the scientists came to the conclusion that the time of making the balls belongs to different historical periods, so, apparently, they were made for several centuries. The earliest discovered object - a kind of pottery - was estimated to have been manufactured somewhere after 600 years. Some gold ornaments date back to the year 1000. Others date back to the 16th century, as they were found next to iron tools relating to this period.

This means that the giant stone balls of Costa Rica, most likely, were made by the ancestors of the modern population, who came to these lands during the Spanish conquest. They lived in round huts in small settlements scattered far apart, numbering up to a thousand people. They lived mainly due to agriculture, growing maize, beans, papaya, avocado, red pepper and root vegetables.

This means that the giant stone balls of Costa Rica, most likely, were made by the ancestors of the modern population, who came to these lands during the Spanish conquest

Fig.2. Belgian archaeologists are studying the giant stone ball of Costa Rica.

What is the purpose of the giant stone balls of Costa Rica - this is a question that no one can answer with complete certainty until now. Some balls were partially dug in the ground at the burial site or planted on earth mounds near the graves. Others found grouped and forming some or other figures: triangles, parallelograms, straight and sinuous lines and even some astronomical configurations. At least one of the groups, consisting of 4 balls laid out in a straight line, is oriented strictly to the north.

There were many rumors about the appointment of these stone balls. This was facilitated by the fact that none of the measurements taken in the 40s of the last century were not very accurate. The initial position of many balls was violated, which made further archaeological investigations impossible. Theories related to the supernatural or extraterrestrial origin of giant stone balls Costa Rica, mostly rejected by academic circles. Reports that groups of stones emit radio waves, speed up the heartbeat, treat illnesses and bring luck to those who come to them, were not taken seriously, but nevertheless caused an influx of tourists.

Today, very few balls remained in their original places. Rumors that gold was hidden in them led to the fact that several spheres were blown up. The current government of Costa Rica is studying proposals to create a security zone in this area and to try to return the stone balls that now decorate private and public gardens and parks throughout the country to their place of detection. The preservation of giant stone balls today is seen as a priority, but their origin and destination remain a mystery.

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