Near Stonehenge at Bulford, England, Dr. Phil Harding led an excavation uncovering 48 pits dated to ~2950 BCE—roughly 500 years before Stonehenge's stones went up. Two post holes 120 meters apart aligned with solstice sunrises to within 1 degree, confirmed by skyscape archaeologist Dr. Fabio Silva. The site may have hosted ancient solstice celebrations before permanent monuments existed.
5,000-year-old proto-Stonehenge solstice site discovered at Bulford, England
Key facts
- Site discovered at Bulford, approximately 5 km from Stonehenge, during archaeological work ahead of Ministry of Defence housing construction
- Excavation led by Dr. Phil Harding uncovered 48 pits radiocarbon dated to around 2950 BCE, roughly 500 years before Stonehenge's stones were erected
- Artifacts recovered included pottery, animal bone, worked flints, charcoal, and a rare disk-shaped knife possibly referencing the sun disk
- Two post holes for wooden poles placed 120 m apart aligned directly with the rising sun during the solstices, confirmed by skyscape archaeologist Dr. Fabio Silva to within 1 degree accuracy
- Findings suggest the site was a place for ancient people to celebrate solstices before more permanent monuments like Stonehenge were built
Sources
nature.com
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