Phil Harding finds earlier version of Stonehenge three miles from world-famous monument 18.06.2026

Archaeologists led by Phil Harding of Wessex Archaeology have discovered a significant prehistoric religious site just three miles from Stonehenge in Bulford, Wiltshire. Excavations revealed 50 ritual pits and two timber monuments dating back to 3000 BC, predating Stonehenge's main construction by 450 years. These structures were precisely aligned with the summer and winter solstices, indicating that solar worship was a crucial practice in the Stonehenge area much earlier than previously understood. The pits contained feasting debris, animal bones, and a rare flint knife, suggesting communal celebrations and potentially elite rituals associated with celestial events. This discovery pushes back the known history of solar alignments in the region and prompts further investigation into similar ancient monuments.



















