Archaeologists say they now have strong evidence that a huge circle of deep pits near Stonehenge was deliberately dug by Neolithic people more than 4,000 years ago.
Known as the Durrington pit circle, the structure is believed to consist of around 20 massive pits spread over a mile-wide ring, with some measuring up to 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep. The site was first identified in 2020, but some experts questioned whether the features were natural.
A new study in Internet Archaeology reports that researchers used a combination of advanced techniques — including radar, magnetometry, electrical resistance imaging, soil dating and ancient DNA analysis — to confirm the pits were human-made. Repeating soil patterns across the site helped rule out natural formation.
Lead researcher Prof Vincent Gaffney said the findings reveal an “extraordinary” prehistoric monument, possibly linked to ancient beliefs about the underworld. The structure is thought to date back to the late Neolithic period and may represent one of the largest prehistoric constructions in Britain.
