Archaeologists say they now have strong evidence that enormous pits near Stonehenge were deliberately dug by humans more than 4,000 years ago.
The circular formation, known as the Durrington pit circle, is thought to consist of about 20 विशाल pits stretching over a mile, with some measuring up to 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep. While initially discovered in 2020, some experts had questioned whether the features were natural.
A new study has combined advanced techniques such as ground radar, electrical resistance scanning, sediment coring, soil DNA analysis and luminescence dating. Researchers found repeating, structured soil patterns that they say could not have formed naturally.
Professor Vincent Gaffney of the University of Bradford said the findings confirm the pits were human-made and described the structure as “extraordinary”. The team believes the pits likely had spiritual significance, possibly linked to beliefs about an underworld.
The discovery suggests the monument was one of the largest prehistoric constructions in Britain and offers new insight into Neolithic beliefs and engineering.
