Archaeology & History

Neolithic monument found near Stonehenge

By T.K. Randall
September 7, 2015 ·  2 comments

The monument may have once resembled the stone circle at Avebury. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 David Iliff Dating back 4,500 years, the previously undiscovered Neolithic construction consisted of around 90 standing stones arranged in a wide semi-circle that was facing in the direction of the River Avon.

Using ground-penetrating radar researchers have so far identified 30 intact stones along with the fragmented remains of a further 60 buried underneath a thick grassy bank.

"What we are starting to see is the largest surviving stone monument, preserved underneath a bank, that has ever been discovered in Britain and possibly in Europe," said archaeologist Vince Gaffney.Located just two miles from the world famous Stonehenge site, this incredible stone monument is believed to have been a ritual arena centered on a natural depression in the terrain.

The effort needed to haul these huge stones in to place also indicates that its construction was considered extremely important to the people of the age.

"Everything written previously about the Stonehenge landscape and the ancient monuments within it will need to be rewritten," said archaeologist and historian Paul Garwood.


Source: The Guardian | Comments (2)

Tags: Stonehenge, Neolithic