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Ancient Solstice Site Found Near Stonehenge
18 Jun
Summary
- Remnants of a 5,000-year-old site possibly used for solstice gatherings discovered.
- The Bulford site predates Stonehenge's stone erection by approximately 500 years.
- Archaeologists found evidence of feasting, suggesting religious gatherings.
British archaeologists have announced the discovery of a site in Bulford, England, dating back approximately 5,000 years. This ancient location is believed to have been utilized for solstice gatherings, potentially predating the construction of Stonehenge's iconic stones by about 500 years. The findings include ancient pits, excavated between 2015 and 2017, which archaeologists theorize held wooden poles forming a line aligned with the sun during solstices.
Excavations at the Bulford site yielded extensive evidence of feasting, including pottery, animal bone, and worked flints. This suggests the site served as a place for religious gatherings for prehistoric communities who held the sun in high regard. While the full analysis is ongoing, early conclusions point to a sophisticated understanding of celestial movements and a shared cultural importance of solstices in the region millennia ago.
