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The Georgia Guidestones are a collection of large, solid granite monoliths constructed in a way to be used as an astronomical stone monument. They stones located in Elbert County, Georgia. The monument is almost 20 feet tall including the buried support stones, or exactly 18 feet of solid granite pointing to the sky above the ground. Ten "rules" area inscribed on the face of each structure in eight modern languages including Arabic, Chinese, English, Hebrew, Hindi, Spanish, Swahili, and Russian. The top of the structure has a different message in four ancient languages including Babylonian, Classical Greek, Sanskrit, and Egyptian hieroglyphs. An additional flat granite tablet set in to the ground several yards to the west of the structure provides a few notes on the history and specifications of the Guidestones. "Let these be guidestones to an Age of Reason" is carved at the top of the marker. It also mentions a time capsule "six feet below," buried under the tablet.

The stones, the property, the purchase and construction of the granite slabs, and the legal menuvering surrounding these transactions are all shrouded in mystery. A man known only by the pseudonym -- J.C. Christian showed up one day in June of 1979. J.C (his initials - a striking resemblance to Jesus Christ) apparantly told people at the Elberton Granite Finishing Company that he wanted to send a message to mankind. He then proceded to pay million of dollars to have the granite, weighing more than 240,000 pounds quarried, cut, polished, and carved. He also purchased land on the Mullenix farm, the highest point in Elbert County, for the monument and immediately proceded to donate the land to the town.

Some of the astronomical features of the granite monument include a channel through stone which indicates the celestial pole. A horizontal slot indicating the annual travel of sun. Sunbeams shining through capstone mark noon time throughout the year. The four outer stones are oriented to mark the limits of the 18.6 year lunar declination cycle. The center column features a hole through which the North Star can be seen regardless of time, as well as a slot that is aligned with the Sun's solstices and equinoxes. A small aperture in the capstone allows a ray of sun to pass through at noon each day, shining a beam on the center stone indicating the day of the year.

The 10 guiding principles carved in the stones are:

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

There has been much speculation as to why the monument was built, some say it was constructed by representatives of a secret society called the Rosicrucian Order, which call for a global religion, world courts, and population levels to be kept at 500 million (which by the way is over a 5.5 billion reduction from current levels). The Rosicrucian Order has been accused of practicing alchemy and mind control. Some say that the ancient Knights of the Templar were instrumental in building this landmark. It is even rumored that there are secret Templar messages or items buried under the huge, flat granite slab laying prostrate on the earth. The mystery deepens even more when one notices that the boldly carved message "To be uncovered on..." has never had a date carved into the stone.

In his article, "Decoding the Georgia Guidestones," Van Smith identifies three potential candidates as the true identity of J.C. (or R.C.) Christian, (Joe H. Fendley Sr., Dr. Francis Merchant, or Ted Turner). In the end, Smith concludes that Ted Turner is the most likely candidate for being R.C. Christian.

Yoko Ono as well as others have praised the inscribed messages as "a stirring call to rational thinking.

The Guidestones have been covered in many media outlets including:

• "Apocalypse in Georgia" Brad Meltzer's "Decoded" on History TV
• "American Stonehenge: Monumental Instructions for the Post-Apocalypse". Wired Magazine (Condé Nast)
• Georgia Off the Beaten Path. Globe Pequot. p. 206. ISBN 0-7627-4199-6
• Mysteries and Secrets of the Templars. Toronto: Dundurn Group. Fanthorpe, R. Lionel (2005).
• "The Georgia Guidestones: tourist attraction or cult message?". The Elberton Star. Gary Jones (18 May 2005).
• Decoding the Georgia Guidestones by Van Smith. Van's Hardware Journal (December 28, 2009)

The State of Georgia has one of the fastest growing U.S. populations with a growth rate of over 10.5%. The largest city and capital of Georgia is Atlanta. Other important cities include Athens, Augusta, the 2nd largest city in Georgia and home to the famous Augusta Golf Club, and Savannah, Georgia's port city. Tourism with an annual income of more than $34 billion, and agriculture comprise a large portion of Georgia's economy. Nearly a quarter of a million people are employed in Georgia.

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