Lost - The Georgia Guidestones (updated 11.29.22)

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Image courtesy of Quentin Melson (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia

One of the great mysteries of our modern era has been destroyed. The Georgia Guidestones, a monument to the concerns of a secretive group of individuals, were purposely brought down by local government officials, after someone irreparably damaged them by detonating explosives at the site where they stood. It's just another in a long line of strange twists in the saga of one of Georgia's great archeological mysteries.

Just what were the Georgia Guidestones and why were they such an enigma?

Elbert County, Georgia
Elbert County is located in the northeastern part of the state of Georgia. Established on December 10th, 1790, Elbert is home to the 20,000 seat Granite Bowl, which is in turn home to the Elbert County Blue Devils football team. It's no surprise that the stadium is named after granite, as this indigenous rock is a major factor in the county's economy. In fact, monuments made from Elberton granite makes up fully one-third of the total granite monument production of the entire United States, causing many in Elbert to refer to the town as the "monument capital of the world".

Robert C. Christian
It seems only fitting then, that a man by the name of Robert C. Christian would travel to Elbert in June of 1979 to commission a massive granite monument that would rival that of England's famed Stonehenge.

Christian, a man in his fifties at the time of his arrival at the Elberton Granite Finishing Company, told the company's owner, Joe H. Fendley Sr., that he represented "a small group of loyal Americans who believe in God". He went on to explain that the group wished to have a large granite monument built. Christian then began to describe the overall dimensions he wished for the proposed edifice. The size and scope of what the group wanted for the monument was larger and more detailed than anything Joe Fendley had ever encountered from a customer. He was, to put it mildly, incredulous. As he was quoted as saying sometime after the fact, "It was so far out it was unbelievable. It's next to impossible to get a block of stone that big", he was quoted as saying. 

However, Mr. Christian was not to be deterred. He had come to Elbert on a sacred mission, one he claimed had been in the planning stages for twenty years - and he was prepared to pay to see it  completed. From some accounts, Fendley Sr. thought this R.C. Christian, whom he had never met before and knew nothing about, was a bit of a nut and he hoped that, if he asked an exorbitant ammount of money for the project's completion, the man would reconsider, lose interest and leave town. However, the soft-spoken, well-dressed gentleman who had appeared unannounced, seemingly out of nowhere, apparently was not put off by the extraordinarily high price he was being asked to pay and proceeded to approve of the project. In order to assure that payment would be forthcoming, Mr. Christian was then referred to Wyatt Martin, president of the local Granite City Bank. Martin, who had been forewarned about Mr. Christian and his proposal, quickly let the mysterious gentleman know what he thought about the large expenditure of money, telling him, "I believe you'd be just as well off to take the money and throw it out in the street into the gutters".  Mr. Christian assured the skeptical banker that, while the project was indeed very expensive, he was as serious as could be about his intentions to proceed, and that he possessed the funds to pay for it.

Satisfied he had found the appropriate company to create the granite monument and a local banker who could handle the finances, Mr. Christian went on his way, reportedly chartering a private plane to begin scouting the area in and around Elbert in order to locate a suitable spot for the monument.

The following Monday, Mr. Christian returned to Elbert and once again visited the Granite City Bank, this time securing an arrangement with the banker which would allow him to officially commence work on the project. He also brought with him a scale model of the monument, along with ten pages of detailed instructions, which he presented  to Joe H. Fendley Sr. at the Elberton Granite Finishing Company. 

While Mr. Martin and Mr. Fendley Sr. may have at this point begun to believe in R.C. Christian and his project, there was still the matter of money that stood in the way of any actual commitment to start the project. However, when a $10,000 deposit from Mr. Christian arrived at the bank the following Friday, all doubts faded and preparations began on the monument. On October 1st, 1979, the five acre parcel of land R.C. Christian chose for the site was purchased from a local farmer (who was, as part of the deal, granted a lifetime of grazing rights for his farm animals) and soon after construction of the granite monument began in earnest. 

The Guidestones
It is apparent to many that the Georgia Guidestones were some type of rock-hewn mesenger to future generations, ostensibly those who had survived some type of apocalyptic disaster of, say, Biblical proportions. The granite structure had carefully positioned holes and slots carved into it, designed to spot the North Star at all times and to align with the sun during the yearly solstices. The imposing granite slabs were positioned, much like giant Commandment tablets,  encircling an imposing center column. Each of the six tablets had messages expertly carved into them, in different languages, with words instructing the readers, giving them guidance and showing them how to conduct themselves.

Image courtesy of Ashley York via wikipedia

Guidestones To An Age Of Reason
Just what exactly did the group which R.C. Christian claimed he represented wish to accomplish with construction of the Georgia Guidestones? Why did they feel it necessary to create such a large, imposing structure which literally towered over the surrounding countryside?

As with so many structures with mysterious origins, theories abound regarding the purpose and meaning of the Guidestones. However, we do know that there were ten specific instructions, written in eight separate languages, which were carved into the faces of the granite tablets:

  1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
  2. Guide reproduction wisely – improving fitness and diversity.
  3. Unite humanity with a living new language.
  4. Rule passion – faith – tradition – and all things with tempered reason.
  5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
  6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
  7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
  8. Balance personal rights with social duties.
  9. Prize truth – beauty – love – seeking harmony with the infinite.
  10. Be not a cancer on the Earth – Leave room for nature – Leave room for nature.

There have been many different interpretation as to just what was meant by these instructions. Were they referencing the discredited theories of eugenics? Were they satanic in nature? Did they advocate for forced population control through sterilization? It's impossible to know for certain.

A Small Group of Loyal Americans 
Whether or not there really was a "small group of loyal Americans who believe in God" which the enigmatic Mr. Robert C. Christian said he was representing is purely speculation. If there were other members, no one is talking. It is interesting to note, however, that while Mr. Christian requested that all records pertaining to the project be destroyed after completion of the Guidestones, it has been reported that this never happened and that the papertrail pertaining to The Georgia Guidstones still exists, although those who are the guardians of said records have agreed to abide by Mr. Christians' wishes to never divulge any information about the project.

This includes the real name of Robert C. Christian, which remains a mystery to this day. 

The Search for The Bombers
Since the bombing of the Georgia Guidestones on July 6, 2022, both local law enforcement and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have been working to learn the identity of the individual or individuals responsible for damaging the Guidestones. Because it is an open investigation, there is a limit to the amount of evidence that can be made available to the public. With that said, there are some interesting pieces of information which can be examined.

07.06.22 - Georgia Bureau of Investigation issue a release - 
Elbert County, GA (July 6, 2022) – The GBI and Elbert County Sheriff’s Office are investigating an explosion that destroyed the Georgia Guidestones near Elberton, GA.
The preliminary information indicates that unknown individuals detonated an explosive device at around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6th. Elbert County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to discover the explosion destroyed a large portion of the structure. The Elbert County Sheriff's Office asked the GBI to assist with the investigation. GBI EOD are on scene conducting their examination of the site.
This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 283-2421 or the GBI Athens Office at (706) 552-2309. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

07.07.22 - Georgia Bureau of Investigation release videos showing 1) someone running up to the Guidestones and placing something at the base of the monument, 2) the explosion that damaged the Guidestones and 3) a car leaving the scene immediately after the explosion. 


It is interesting to note that in the initial release, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation state that preliminary information indicates "that unknown individuals detonated an explosive device". 


A photo released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation shows a GBI bomb disposal truck and what appears to be a large tent covering some portion of the parking lot which faces the Guidestones. This photo was taken after the explosion that damaged the Guidestones and before the decision was made to completely demolish the remaining upright Guidestones. As can be seen in this photo, some of the granite rubble is visible in the background of the photo.

Two questions (among others) can be posed based upon the content of this photo. One, why exactly was the tent placed over the parking lot and not over some other area in or around the Guidestones? Two, why was a bomb disposal truck on site? 

It would seem fair to assume the bomb disposal truck was at the Guidestones site to be available in the event that more explosives were found during the investigation. As to the placement of the tent, there are questions which remain unanswered. One explanation could be that the tent was placed directly over an area that was being scrutinized by the GBI CSI unit. This seems quite possible in light of the fact that a car was videotaped leaving the scene of the crime shortly after the explosion. Could it be that they are hunting for clues left by the inhabitants of that car, or clues left by the car itself, in the parking lot? 

The Georgia Guidestones - after being demolished - "for safety reasons".


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