In 2007, archaeologists discovered a small village in Great Britain that dates back to the Neolithic era (7000-4000 BC). It was found near an ancient World Heritage site known as Stonehenge (stone structures).
Two miles northeast of Stonehenge, a site known as the Durington Walls was discovered. Built mostly of wood, this village originated between 2600 and 2500 BC, as evidenced by carbon analysis. Despite this, the houses are still in excellent condition.
Since the stone structures of Stonehenge were dated to approximately the same era, experts suggest that the discovered village was a residence for their builders.
Since 2003, excavations funded by National Geographic have unearthed houses, beds and other wooden furniture, a stone passage, and footprints embedded in clay. In addition to the items of daily use, archaeologists have found a structure consisting of wooden pillars placed in concentric circles. Researchers believe it is a faithful wooden replica of nearby Stonehenge.
Another curious discovery at the site is a large amount of broken pottery, and the remains of animals scattered throughout the village. The researchers point out that the villagers weren't just unkempt; they claim that these exhibits are the product of a religious ceremony. Some also believe that the site was not a permanent residence.
Stonehenge is one of the most mysterious architectural structures on the planet and arguably the UK's most popular tourist destination. The mystery of this structure is partly due to the lack of a rational explanation for how ancient primitive technology could move giant stone blocks. Some of the stones in this ancient monument weigh between 25 and 45 tons, have been carried over many miles, and placed in such a way that the laws of modern technology cannot explain it.
Until now, there is no single, comprehensive theory about the purpose of the construction of Stonehenge. Even though most researchers admit that it was a temple used to funeral the dead, it has also been suggested that other religious rituals and astronomical observations were performed here. It is known that the designers of Stonehenge had astronomical knowledge, since the rising sun shines directly through the axis of the structure on the days of the equinox and solstice.
Although the structure looks rather primitive at first glance, researchers continue to wonder how complex Stonehenge is. Astronomy professor Gerald Hawkins describes in his book Decoded Stonehenge how a structure can actually predict eclipses. Similar to the book "Stonehenge: Sun, Moon, Wandering Stars" by M. W. Postinsa shows how Stonehenge correlates across the entire solar system (relative to various points in the immediate area, such as nearby Aubrey Halls).
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While the last location of the monument builders is supposed to be, it is by no means the first. Many researchers believe that the megalithic structure actually had various groups added to it over thousands of years. The 12th century historian, Giroldus Cambrensis, even suggested that the Merlin from the Arthurian legend came after the construction of the monolithic structure!
Despite the increasingly confirmed guesses of archaeologists, it is still unclear how the builders of Stonehenge moved such huge stones? Also, what methods did they use to gain such detailed astronomical knowledge thousands of years before the invention of the telescope?
Leonardo VINTINI