Archaeologists say they have proven that huge pits near Stonehenge were deliberately carved by Neolithic people, ending years of debate about their origins.
Known as the Durrington pit circle, the structure is thought to consist of around 20 विशाल pits spread over more than a mile, with some measuring up to 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep. The formation was first reported in 2020, when it was described as possibly the largest prehistoric structure in Britain, though some experts suggested the features could be natural.
A new study published in Internet Archaeology used a combination of advanced techniques, including ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry, electrical resistance tomography and sediment core analysis. Researchers also applied soil-dating methods and extracted ancient environmental DNA, finding repeated human-made patterns across the site.
Professor Vincent Gaffney of the University of Bradford said the results show the pits could not have formed naturally. The team believes the pits were dug in the late Neolithic period and may have had a symbolic or spiritual purpose, possibly linked to beliefs about the underworld.
