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Neolithic 'Underworld' Circle Found Near Stonehenge
27 Nov
Summary
- A vast circle of deep pits near Stonehenge has been confirmed as a human-made structure.
- New geophysics and DNA analysis methods were crucial in proving human origin.
- The structure may have been linked to beliefs about an underworld or cosmology.
An "extraordinary structure" of vast pits near Stonehenge has been definitively identified as a human-made Neolithic monument. Researchers employed a novel combination of geophysics techniques, including electrical resistance tomography, radar, and magnetometry, to assess the immense scale of the pits. These methods were vital in overcoming skepticism that the formations might be natural.
Further analysis involved sediment cores, utilizing optically stimulated luminescence for dating and 'sedDNA' to recover ancient DNA. Repeating patterns found in the soil across the site strongly suggest human involvement, ruling out natural occurrences. The pits, some measuring 10 meters wide and 5 meters deep, required considerable engineering skill and determination to excavate.
While the exact purpose remains unknown, the research team speculates the pit circle, potentially dating to the late Neolithic period, might have been connected to beliefs about an underworld. This monumental discovery is considered a significant inscription of the cosmology of its time onto the landscape, offering unprecedented insights into the worldview of people who lived near Stonehenge over 4,000 years ago.
