A second ceremonial monument has been discovered at Stonehenge, scientists said today. Archaeologists have found a circular ditch surrounding a smaller circle of deep pits that would have once contained wooden posts at the World Heritage site. The discovery of the henge, which would have been built more than 4,200 years ago, has been hailed as the biggest find in 50 years. A henge is a circular monument dating to Neolithic and Bronze Ages. is about half a mile from the world-famous stones on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Birmingham University’s Professor Vince Gaffney, who is leading the survey, described the find as ‘exceptional’. It would have been almost the same size as the circle of standing stones at Stonehenge itself and would have been visible from its more famous relative. Images show it has two entrances on the north-east and south-west sides and inside the circle is a burial mound on top which appeared much later. Professor Vince Gaffney, from the University of Birmingham, said: 'It will completely change the way we think about the landscape around Stonehenge. 'People have tended to think that as Stonehenge reached its peak, it was the paramount monument, existing in splendid isolation. This discovery is completely new and extremely important in how we understand Stonehenge and its landscape.' The new 'henge-like' late Neolithic structure would have stood within sight of Stonehenge and appears to have been built on the same orientation as the world-renowned monument.(Daily Mail)Thursday 22 July 2010
Stonehenge 'twin' found: Archaeologists discover ancient wooden circle at famous site
A second ceremonial monument has been discovered at Stonehenge, scientists said today. Archaeologists have found a circular ditch surrounding a smaller circle of deep pits that would have once contained wooden posts at the World Heritage site. The discovery of the henge, which would have been built more than 4,200 years ago, has been hailed as the biggest find in 50 years. A henge is a circular monument dating to Neolithic and Bronze Ages. is about half a mile from the world-famous stones on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Birmingham University’s Professor Vince Gaffney, who is leading the survey, described the find as ‘exceptional’. It would have been almost the same size as the circle of standing stones at Stonehenge itself and would have been visible from its more famous relative. Images show it has two entrances on the north-east and south-west sides and inside the circle is a burial mound on top which appeared much later. Professor Vince Gaffney, from the University of Birmingham, said: 'It will completely change the way we think about the landscape around Stonehenge. 'People have tended to think that as Stonehenge reached its peak, it was the paramount monument, existing in splendid isolation. This discovery is completely new and extremely important in how we understand Stonehenge and its landscape.' The new 'henge-like' late Neolithic structure would have stood within sight of Stonehenge and appears to have been built on the same orientation as the world-renowned monument.(Daily Mail)