Archaeologists Uncover Evidence of Ancient Pit Circle near Stonehenge
New research has confirmed that prehistoric humans created an enormous pit circle, rivaling the size and complexity of the iconic Stonehenge monument. This remarkable discovery was made possible by a combination of cutting-edge scientific techniques, which have shed new light on the mysterious Durrington pit circle.
Located in Wiltshire, England, this vast network of over 20 pits stretches more than a mile across, forming an extraordinary structure that has puzzled scholars for years. While some had initially suspected natural formations, the latest analysis reveals unequivocally that these pits were deliberately carved out by early Neolithic humans around 4,000 years ago.
Using a multifaceted approach that incorporates ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry, and electrical resistance tomography, researchers have been able to reconstruct the size, shape, and depth of the pits with remarkable accuracy. However, it was not until they turned to advanced dating techniques, such as optically stimulated luminescence and "sedDNA" analysis, that the true extent of human involvement became apparent.
The team has identified repeating patterns in the soil samples from different parts of the site, which strongly suggest that humans must have been responsible for creating these massive pits. According to Prof Vincent Gaffney, leader of the research, "These patterns can't be occurring naturally – they're a clear indication of deliberate action by our ancestors."
While it remains impossible to pinpoint the exact purpose behind the creation of this colossal pit circle, experts believe that its construction may have been linked to ancient cosmological beliefs about an underworld. As Gaffney notes, "We've got a massive monument inscribing the cosmology of the people at the time onto the land in a way we haven't seen before."
The discovery of this prehistoric pit circle near Stonehenge is set to rewrite our understanding of human culture and engineering capabilities during the Neolithic period. As Gaffney so eloquently puts it, "If it's going to happen anywhere in Britain, it's going to happen at Stonehenge."
New research has confirmed that prehistoric humans created an enormous pit circle, rivaling the size and complexity of the iconic Stonehenge monument. This remarkable discovery was made possible by a combination of cutting-edge scientific techniques, which have shed new light on the mysterious Durrington pit circle.
Located in Wiltshire, England, this vast network of over 20 pits stretches more than a mile across, forming an extraordinary structure that has puzzled scholars for years. While some had initially suspected natural formations, the latest analysis reveals unequivocally that these pits were deliberately carved out by early Neolithic humans around 4,000 years ago.
Using a multifaceted approach that incorporates ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry, and electrical resistance tomography, researchers have been able to reconstruct the size, shape, and depth of the pits with remarkable accuracy. However, it was not until they turned to advanced dating techniques, such as optically stimulated luminescence and "sedDNA" analysis, that the true extent of human involvement became apparent.
The team has identified repeating patterns in the soil samples from different parts of the site, which strongly suggest that humans must have been responsible for creating these massive pits. According to Prof Vincent Gaffney, leader of the research, "These patterns can't be occurring naturally – they're a clear indication of deliberate action by our ancestors."
While it remains impossible to pinpoint the exact purpose behind the creation of this colossal pit circle, experts believe that its construction may have been linked to ancient cosmological beliefs about an underworld. As Gaffney notes, "We've got a massive monument inscribing the cosmology of the people at the time onto the land in a way we haven't seen before."
The discovery of this prehistoric pit circle near Stonehenge is set to rewrite our understanding of human culture and engineering capabilities during the Neolithic period. As Gaffney so eloquently puts it, "If it's going to happen anywhere in Britain, it's going to happen at Stonehenge."
I'm low-key obsessed with this new discovery! I mean, can you even imagine building something like that 4,000 years ago? The thought of all those people working together to create such an incredible structure is mind-blowing 
I love how they're using cutting-edge tech to unravel the secrets of our ancient ancestors 
. But what really gets me is the scale of this thing – over 20 pits stretching for a mile? That's just massive 
. What do you guys think is the most fascinating part about this discovery?
4k years ago they built a pit circle that's just as massive as Stonehenge - talk about leaving a lasting legacy 
. The patterns in the soil samples do seem suspiciously human-made 
. It's wild to think that these early humans were into some pretty cosmic vibes, like an underworld connection 
. I'm excited to see how this discovery changes our understanding of ancient human culture and what they believed about the universe 
i wish i had that for my history project 
and the way its been dated is insane. they used this combo of techs like radar and magnetometry to figure it out 
its wild that we didnt know about this before!
. I mean, 20+ miles of pits? That's wild! And the best part is, they can actually see patterns in the soil samples that prove humans created them. It's like, mind blown 
. Now we know more about how these people thought about the world and their place in it, which is pretty cool I guess 
.
. Plus, can you imagine being a part of a society where creating massive underground structures is just something they do? 
, especially considering the time period 
. And now we know that these ancient humans were onto something with their cosmological beliefs about an underworld 
... it's like they knew something we don't! 
Anyway, I'm totally stoked to see this discovery rewriting our understanding of human history 
.
archaeologists finally figured out what was goin on with the pit circle near stonehenge! i mean i know we all love a good mystery but come on 20 pits stretchin over a mile? that's like, whoa 
. and the fact that they were able to date the soil samples using "sedDNA" analysis is just genius.
And the fact that they used advanced techniques like optically stimulated luminescence and "sedDNA" analysis to confirm it was human-made is seriously impressive. 
anyway, cant wait to learn more about the purpose behind this incredible discovery 
the way they used radar and other stuff to uncover it is pretty cool too. i'm no expert but it sounds like they figured out something new about human history and their connection with the earth 
this discovery is gonna change everything we thought we knew about ancient humans and their achievements 
. And it's amazing to think that we're still learning about their lives and cultures today. Can you imagine what other secrets are waiting to be uncovered? 
. It's crazy to think that we're only now starting to scratch the surface of what they were capable of with all this tech 
. Can't wait to see more about this! 
at stonehenge... its like a big puzzle, people suspected natural formations but now its clear humans made it 
. i wonder what other secrets this place holds