Georgia loses a bizarre landmark

Georgia has its share of controversial monuments. They include Stone Mountain, which has America’s largest Confederate memorial carved into its side. And until last week the state was home to the Georgia Guidestones, often referred to as “America’s Stonehenge” (not to be confused with an attraction with that name in Salem, New Hampshire). Located about 100 miles (160km) north-east of Atlanta, the 19-foot (six-metre) landmark had messages sandblasted onto its granite surfaces in a dozen languages, including English and Babylonian cuneiform. It also served as a sundial and an astronomical calendar.

In the pre-dawn hours of July 6th a shadowy figure, caught in a grainy image on camera, apparently planted an explosive device at the site of the Guidestones and damaged them. Authorities ordered the remnants destroyed, concerned that the unstable structure could collapse on investigators. They have yet to identify any suspects, but a local prosecutor described the attack as an “act of domestic terrorism”. The perpetrators face a minimum of 20 years in prison.