An article by Heidi Blake on the telegraph - Ancient wooden version of Stonehenge found on Salisbury Plain - reports on the ancient wooden version of Stonehenge which has been unearthed at the site of the world famous Bronze Age monument in Wiltshire, UK.
Images: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute & Nick Snashall/National Trust
The discovery of the timber henge just 900 metres from Stonehenge itself has been hailed as the most exciting find at the site in 50 years.
Wooden version of #Stonehenge unearthed at the site of Bronze Age monument in Wiltshire, UK https://t.co/F8K2aHG4oM pic.twitter.com/FOFxnG7Tty
— Bradshaw Foundation (@BradshawFND) August 15, 2016
Archaeologists have unearthed a circular ditch surrounding a smaller circle of deep pits about a metre wide, which are thought to have once been filled by timber posts. They believe it was constructed at the same time as Stonehenge was being completed, around 4,500 years ago.
The timber ring has two entrances on the north-east and south-west sides and surrounds an ancient burial mound, which is thought to have appeared much later.
Professor Vince Gaffney, the archaeologist from the University of Birmingham who is leading the dig, stated that he was certain further discoveries would be made as 90 per cent of the land around Stonehenge has never been excavated. This recent discovery gives archaeologists a different perspective of the landscape.
The excavation is being funded by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, in Vienna, and the University of Birmingham, and is assisted by the National Trust and English Heritage.
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