Ancient “Proto-Stonehenge” Discovery Rewrites Timeline of Neolithic Solar Alignments

A significant archaeological discovery near the famed Stonehenge monument is prompting a reevaluation of prehistoric astronomical knowledge. Excavations have revealed a structure, dubbed a “proto-Stonehenge,” that predates the iconic stone circle by approximately 500 years. This finding suggests that complex solar alignments were understood and utilized by Neolithic communities much earlier than previously believed.

The Bulford site, located just five kilometers from Stonehenge in Wiltshire, was excavated between 2015 and 2017 by Wessex Archaeology. The research team identified 48 circular pits, or postholes, dated by radiocarbon analysis to around 2950 BC. At the center of this arrangement, evidence of two large wooden posts was found. These posts, though long gone, were precisely aligned to mark the rising sun on the summer solstice and the setting sun on the winter solstice.

Early Solar Astronomy

Phil Harding, director of the Wessex Archaeology investigation, highlights the importance of the discovery’s age. “Until now, our knowledge of this achievement of ancient astronomy was based on Stonehenge and other monuments of a similar period, but what we have discovered in Bulford is 500 years older than the famous stones we all know,” Harding stated. This evidence indicates that the tradition of marking solar cycles was established centuries before Stonehenge was constructed, positioning the famous monument as inheritor rather than innovator of this astronomical practice.

Dr. Fabio Silva, from Stone x Sky and the Skyscape Academy, contextualizes the find, emphasizing that it helps understand Stonehenge “not as a singular creation, but as part of a much longer conversation between people, the land, and the sky.” The alignment at Bulford suggests that Neolithic communities were actively engaging with the solstices within the Stonehenge landscape long before the iconic sarsen stones were erected.

Discovery Context and Artifacts

The Bulford site’s discovery was part of mandatory preventive archaeology conducted before the construction of military housing. Recovered materials included Grooved Ware pottery, animal bones, flint, and charcoal, indicating gatherings of large groups for short periods, likely for solar cycle celebrations. The presence of Grooved Ware pottery, originating from Scotland’s Orkney Islands, also points to extensive cultural contacts across hundreds of kilometers during this period.

One particular posthole may have served as an observation station and contained a rare disc-shaped flint knife. Its placement is thought to be symbolic, possibly referencing the sun. Digital reconstructions of the ancient sky and horizon by Dr. Silva confirmed the alignment of the two central posts with the solstices to within one degree of accuracy. The research team also speculates that an earlier, similar structure may have existed at Stonehenge itself but was erased by later construction phases.

Limitations and Future Research

Despite the compelling evidence, some experts urge caution. Jim Leary of the University of York noted that “two postholes do not constitute an especially convincing alignment,” expressing a preference for a longer row of posts to solidify the interpretation. Vince Gaffney, a landscape archaeologist from the University of Bradford, agrees that definitively proving intentional alignment based on just two points is challenging, though not impossible.

The full academic paper detailing the findings is expected later this year. Until then, the Bulford site offers a crucial glimpse into the deep roots of astronomical observation in prehistoric Britain, predating and potentially influencing the construction of Stonehenge.

Key facts

Source: Xataka IA, “Antes de Stonehenge hubo un “primer Stonehenge”: acabamos de descubrirlo a cinco kilómetros del que todo el mundo conoce”, https://www.xataka.com/magnet/antes-stonehenge-hubo-primer-stonehenge-acaba-aparecer-a-solo-cinco-kilometros-que-todo-mundo-conoce