Archaeologists Discover Another Ceremonial Monument Near Stonehenge

Archaeologists have made a new find near Stonehenge — another ceremonial monument only a few hundred yards (meters) from the stone circle.

Photo: Archaeologists Discover Another Ceremonial Monument Near Stonehenge

Scientists from Britain as well as teams from Austria, Germany, Norway and Sweden made the new discovery at the start of a new project to map the site.

They found a second henge-like structure — a circular area thought to have once held a wooden structure, according to The Associated Press.

By using virtual technology, the archaeologists found a circular ditch less than one kilometre away from the iconic stone circle, which is thought to date back to the Neolithic period 2,000 to 4,000 years ago.

"This finding is remarkable," said Vince Gaffney, professor of archaeology at the University of Birmingham, and the project's leader.

"It will completely change the way we think about the landscape around Stonehenge."

The new henge is a ditch with internal pits about a metre wide which could have held timber posts. It measures 25 metres (82 ft) in diameter, just five metres less than Stonehenge, Reuters informs.