Located 7 miles north of Elberton in Elbert County ("Granite Capital of the World") is a mysterious 19-foot-high monument consisting of six granite slabs sitting atop a seventh (and submerged) stone base known as the Georgia Guidestones. Carved into the sides of the six standing stones is the following message translated into 11 other languages (ancient Sanskrit, Babylonian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphics, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahli):

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.

Although suggestive of the ancient Stonehenge complex in England, the Georgia Guidelines is of relatively recent origin. In June 1979, an anonymous man who identified himself as "Mr. Christian" (because of his religion) approached the president of the Elberton Granite Finishing Co. and indicated that he represented a group of non-Georgians who wanted to erect a granite monument dedicated to the conservation of humanity. The identify of that man, the author of the message, and the financial backers of the Georgia Guidestones remain a closely guarded secret.
 

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