Archaeologists say they now have firm evidence that Neolithic people dug a massive circle of deep pits near Stonehenge, known as the Durrington pit circle.
The formation is thought to include around 20 pits spread across a ring more than a mile wide, with some pits measuring up to 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep. The feature was first identified in 2020 but faced scepticism, with some experts suggesting it could be natural.
New research published in Internet Archaeology used a combination of geophysical scanning, soil sampling and advanced dating techniques to confirm the pits were human-made. Scientists found repeating, artificial patterns in sediment layers that could not have formed naturally.
Researchers believe the structure dates back more than 4,000 years and may have had a symbolic purpose linked to ancient beliefs about the underworld, though its exact function remains unknown.
