Huge ritual monument found near Stonehenge

A monumental semicircle of 90 huge stones has been discovered near Stonehenge, buried beneath the outer bank of the prehistoric Durrington Walls earthworks – one of Europe’s largest “henge” monuments

Artist’s impression of stones

Stonehenge
3km
River Avon
SALISBURY PLAIN
500m
1,640ft

Row of stones: Up to 90 massive stones discovered using ground penetrating radar. Once stood 4.5m high forming southern edge of C-shaped arena 

Chalk ridge: Cut around sides to accentuate border of natural depression

Up to 30 stones have survived because they were pushed over and covered with huge bank of earth

Stones thought to be “sarsens” – hard sandstone blocks that make up most of Stonehenge’s standing stones (right)

Durrington Walls “superhenge”: Thought to be Neolithic ritual site built around 4,500 years ago

Neolithic arena: Bordered dry valley and faced directly towards River Avon

Durrington Walls: 1.5km in circumference


Source: Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project
Pictures: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute, Getty Images

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