Crop circles, also known as crop formations, are intricate patterns that appear in fields of crops, typically in the form of flattened or bent stalks. The origins of crop circles are somewhat uncertain, but their history can be traced back to the late 17th century.

1678:

The earliest known description of a crop circle was recorded in a pamphlet called "The Mowing-Devil." The pamphlet describes a field of oats that was flattened in a circular pattern, and it was rumored that the devil himself had mowed the field.

1960s-1970s:

Reports of crop circles began to surface in the United Kingdom, primarily in the area around the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. These early crop circles were generally simple in design and often appeared near ancient burial mounds or other sacred sites.

1980:

The first modern crop circle was reported in Wiltshire, England. This crop circle was much more complex than earlier formations and was immediately attributed to extraterrestrial activity by some UFO enthusiasts.

1980s-1990s:

Crop circles became increasingly popular in the UK, with hundreds of formations appearing each year. Many of these circles were highly elaborate and featured intricate patterns and geometric shapes.

1991:

Researchers Doug Bower and Dave Chorley claimed responsibility for creating many of the crop circles that had appeared in the UK. They used simple tools such as ropes and boards to create the circles and were able to fool many people into thinking that the formations were the work of aliens or other supernatural forces.

1990s-2000s:

Despite the revelations by Bower and Chorley, interest in crop circles continued to grow. Some researchers believed that the formations were created by natural phenomena such as plasma vortices or electromagnetic fields, while others continued to attribute them to extraterrestrial activity.

2000s-2010s:

Crop circles began to appear in other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. While many of these formations were similar in design to those in the UK, there were also some unique and unusual patterns.

2010s-present:

Crop circles continue to be a topic of interest for researchers and enthusiasts, but their popularity has waned somewhat in recent years.

One of the most intriguing aspects of crop circles is the possibility that they contain hidden messages, whether encoded in their design or conveyed through other means.

Over the years, a number of researchers and enthusiasts have attempted to decode the hidden messages within crop circles, using various methods and techniques. Some have focused on the geometric patterns and mathematical principles that underlie the formations, while others have sought to interpret the symbolism and imagery within the circles.

One of the most popular methods for decoding crop circles is to use sacred geometry, which is the study of geometric patterns that are believed to have spiritual or mystical significance. Many crop circles exhibit complex geometric patterns, such as fractals, mandalas, and other symmetrical designs, that are thought to encode hidden messages or spiritual teachings.

Another approach to decoding crop circles is to examine the symbolism and imagery within the formations. Some researchers have suggested that the shapes and symbols within crop circles are reminiscent of ancient religious or mythological symbols, and that they may be conveying messages or teachings that are relevant to modern society.

In addition to these approaches, there have also been attempts to use technology and scientific methods to decode the hidden messages within crop circles. For example, some researchers have used spectroscopy to analyze the chemical composition of the crops within the formations, in an attempt to detect any anomalous or unusual patterns.

Despite these efforts, however, the question of whether crop circles contain hidden messages remains a mystery.  Some researchers and enthusiasts believe that the patterns and symbolism within crop circles are evidence of higher forms of intelligence or consciousness, others maintain that the formations are simply the result of natural phenomena or human-created hoaxes.