Sitting in the middle of a large field on one of the highest hilltops in Elberton, Georgia, these large granite monuments have attracted controversy, conspiracy theories and tourism over the years since their erection just 42 years ago. Condemned as ‘satanic’ by some and listed as a tourist attraction by Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, these slabs have found their way into the news again recently after they were mysteriously bombed in the early hours of 6 July 2022...

While some theological tableaus date back to ancient times, the Georgia Guidestones were erected in 1980 but are no less mysterious. The American version of Stonehenge is made up of vast granite slabs, measuring 19 feet tall. Inscribed in a number of different languages, is what appears to be an Armageddon guide in English, Spanish, Swahili, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese and Russian. But how did this mystical monument come to be?

The stones were reportedly commissioned by someone using the pseudonym Robert C Christian on behalf of anonymous donors described as a "small group of loyal Americans". They were intended to function as a compass, calendar and clock. The stonemasons instructed to build them were told they must be capable of withstanding catastrophic events, partly because they detail instructions for rebuilding civilisation after an apocalypse. In a further twist, HBO’s Last Week Tonight found footage claiming to reveal the true identity of Robert C Christian as an alleged eugenics-supporting fan of white supremacist David Duke. 

Elbert County Chamber of Commerce details that the guidelines engraved into the stone offer instructions for the future of humanity and its conservation, with messages such as "Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts" and "Balance personal rights with social duties". Written in a number of languages, even including Sanskrit and Egyptian hieroglyphics, the Guidestones also function as an astronomical calendar, arranged to let sunlight shine through a narrow hole in the structure at noon every day to illuminate engraved dates.

Despite attracting 20,000 visitors a year and even inspiring a Yoko Ono song in 1993, the monument was mysteriously bombed in the early hours of July 6, 2022 by unknown individuals. Footage from CCTV captured the events, with a surveillance video released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation showing the explosion and a silver sedan leaving the scene shortly after the detonation. 

The perpetrators and their motives still remain a mystery, while many have been vocal about their distrust of the monument. Former Georgia Republican Governor Candidate, Kandiss Taylor reportedly called it “satanic” and publicly campaigned to obliterate it, later suggesting the vandalism was an act of God on Twitter. 

The blast caused irreparable damage to the safety and stability of the stones and repairs would run to hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to the Elberton Granite Association responsible for maintaining the monument. After assessing the damage, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) made the decision to demolish the stones entirely "for safety reasons”, posting a photo on Twitter of the modern-day commandments reduced to rubble and dust. America's Stonehenge may have fallen, but the reason why this monument appeared, and why it was destroyed, are mysteries which may never be answered...

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