Researchers have identified what they believe to be an earlier, more rudimentary predecessor to Stonehenge approximately 3 miles from the well-known prehistoric monument. The site, located in Bulford, consists of two post holes that once held wooden structures estimated to stand between 2 and 4 meters high and separated by 120 meters. Analysis indicates these posts were precisely aligned with sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice, mirroring the astronomical alignments found at Stonehenge itself.
The site has been dated to approximately 5,000 years ago through radiocarbon analysis, making it roughly 500 years older than Stonehenge. The discovery was made nearly a decade ago during ground clearing for military housing, though detailed analysis of the astronomical alignment has only recently been completed. Researchers reconstructed the position of the sun 5,000 years ago to confirm the precision of the alignment, finding it to be exact within the estimated widths of the original posts.
Excavation of the surrounding area revealed numerous artifacts indicating the site served as a gathering place for prehistoric communities. Discoveries included pottery fragments, flint tools, animal bones, and an antler used for digging. Among the most significant finds was a disc-shaped Neolithic knife crafted with notable precision and placed carefully in the ground, raising questions about its potential symbolic meaning.
Experts suggest the Bulford site may have been inhabited or regularly visited by the same populations responsible for Stonehenge’s initial construction phase. The astronomical focus at both locations likely stemmed from the communities’ dependence on seasonal cycles for agricultural survival. Historical records indicate the winter solstice held particular significance for ancient peoples as a time of ceremonial importance tied to ensuring the return of spring and productive seasons ahead.
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