An archaeological dig has uncovered the UK's oldest sacred site which is still in use dating back more than 4,000 years.
Carbon dating carried out on a wooden post excavated from the Shropshire site has revealed that it was nailed into the ground in 2033 BC.
The site was unearthed in February at the Church of the Holy Fathers in Shrewsbury and is the UK's oldest religious site still in use today.
'This is a living monument': 4,000-year-old Shropshire church is found to be the UK's oldest sacred site still in use
Carbon dating carried out on a wooden post revealed it was placed in 2033BC
It was excavated in February at the Church of the Holy Fathers in Shrewsbury
The post was found jutting into the foundations of the medieval church
Christian groups are known to have built over many sacred pagan sites
Ancient Neolithic people were worshipping at the site at a time when Egyptian pharaohs were building the pyramids
By Harry Pettit For Mailonline
19 May 2017
An archaeological dig has uncovered the UK's oldest sacred site which is still in use dating back more than 4,000 years.
Carbon dating carried out on a wooden post excavated from the Shropshire site has revealed that it was nailed into the ground in 2033 BC.
The site was unearthed in February at the Church of the Holy Fathers in Shrewsbury and is the UK's oldest religious site still in use today.
The ancient post was found jutting into the foundations of the medieval church, where Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains have all been found.
An archaeological dig in Shropshire has found a sacred site dates back more than 4,000 years to the late Neolithic period. Experts at the site unearthed animal remains, Saxon stone, a prehistoric flint and a neolithic counting disc
Neolithic people were worshipping at the site at a time when Egyptian pharaohs were building the pyramids.
Christian groups are known to have built churches and other buildings over Neolithic pagan sites in the centuries since the ancient religion faded.
Experts from Baskerville Archaeological Services made the remarkable discovery at the site, which is steeped in history.
The team also unearthed animal remains, Saxon stone, a prehistoric flint and a neolithic counting disc.
Archaeologists, who thought the post would be dated as Anglo-Saxon, were surprised to learn that it was from the Neolithic or Bronze age period.
It is believed the site had been reused several times for religious purposes over a period of 4,000 years.
The recent dig revealed that the current 30 ft church was originally three times longer than it is today.
Janey Green, from Baskerville Archaeological Services, who was part of the recent excavation said: 'It is an incredibly complex site and appears to have been used and re-used for religious purposes for over 4,000 years.
'It is well known that Christians liked to build churches over pagan sites.'
Previous excavations conducted in the 1960s and 70s revealed Neolithic structures to the east of the church as well as burial mounds and cremations.
An archaeological dig has uncovered the UK's oldest sacred site dating back over 4,000 years. Carbon dating carried out on a wooden post (pictured), excavated from the site in Shropshire, has revealed that it was nailed into the ground in 2033 BC
The site was excavated in February at the Church of the Holy Fathers (pictured) in Shrewsbury and is the UK's oldest religious site still in use today
Ms Green said: 'The current church appears to have incorporated and deliberately built over late Neolithic/early Bronze Age remains.
'The 15-inch section of post we found was sticking up into the medieval foundations.'
'Most of these Neolithic sites have long since been abandoned, like Stonehenge.
'This is a living monument. People are still worshipping here. The earliest sacred development on the site was probably a stone circle with a cursus.
'Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains have all been found here.'
Archaeologists, who thought the post would be dated as Anglo-Saxon, were surprised to learn that it was from the neolithic or bronze age period
The church on the prehistoric site now belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church, which bought it for £50 from the Church of England in 1994.
The Orthodox group saved the church from dereliction and has a regular congregation of around 75.
Church priest Father Stephen Maxfield said: 'From the moment we first saw this building we thought it was very special.
'Now we know that it is and that it is quite unique. It is a place of transcendence and healing.'
It is believed the site had been reused several times for religious purposes over a period of 4,000 years. This image shows some of the animals remains unearthed at the church
The 15-inch section of post was found sticking into the church's medieval foundations
Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains have all been found at the site
Most of the UK's Neolithic pagan sites have either been lost or built over by Christian groups in the centuries since
The recent dig revealed that the current 30 ft church was originally three times longer than it is today
The Church of the Holy Fathers is found in Shrewsbury in the county of Shropshire
Carbon dating carried out on a wooden post excavated from the Shropshire site has revealed that it was nailed into the ground in 2033 BC.
The site was unearthed in February at the Church of the Holy Fathers in Shrewsbury and is the UK's oldest religious site still in use today.
'This is a living monument': 4,000-year-old Shropshire church is found to be the UK's oldest sacred site still in use
Carbon dating carried out on a wooden post revealed it was placed in 2033BC
It was excavated in February at the Church of the Holy Fathers in Shrewsbury
The post was found jutting into the foundations of the medieval church
Christian groups are known to have built over many sacred pagan sites
Ancient Neolithic people were worshipping at the site at a time when Egyptian pharaohs were building the pyramids
By Harry Pettit For Mailonline
19 May 2017
An archaeological dig has uncovered the UK's oldest sacred site which is still in use dating back more than 4,000 years.
Carbon dating carried out on a wooden post excavated from the Shropshire site has revealed that it was nailed into the ground in 2033 BC.
The site was unearthed in February at the Church of the Holy Fathers in Shrewsbury and is the UK's oldest religious site still in use today.
The ancient post was found jutting into the foundations of the medieval church, where Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains have all been found.
An archaeological dig in Shropshire has found a sacred site dates back more than 4,000 years to the late Neolithic period. Experts at the site unearthed animal remains, Saxon stone, a prehistoric flint and a neolithic counting disc
Neolithic people were worshipping at the site at a time when Egyptian pharaohs were building the pyramids.
Christian groups are known to have built churches and other buildings over Neolithic pagan sites in the centuries since the ancient religion faded.
Experts from Baskerville Archaeological Services made the remarkable discovery at the site, which is steeped in history.
The team also unearthed animal remains, Saxon stone, a prehistoric flint and a neolithic counting disc.
Archaeologists, who thought the post would be dated as Anglo-Saxon, were surprised to learn that it was from the Neolithic or Bronze age period.
It is believed the site had been reused several times for religious purposes over a period of 4,000 years.
The recent dig revealed that the current 30 ft church was originally three times longer than it is today.
Janey Green, from Baskerville Archaeological Services, who was part of the recent excavation said: 'It is an incredibly complex site and appears to have been used and re-used for religious purposes for over 4,000 years.
'It is well known that Christians liked to build churches over pagan sites.'
Previous excavations conducted in the 1960s and 70s revealed Neolithic structures to the east of the church as well as burial mounds and cremations.
An archaeological dig has uncovered the UK's oldest sacred site dating back over 4,000 years. Carbon dating carried out on a wooden post (pictured), excavated from the site in Shropshire, has revealed that it was nailed into the ground in 2033 BC
The site was excavated in February at the Church of the Holy Fathers (pictured) in Shrewsbury and is the UK's oldest religious site still in use today
Ms Green said: 'The current church appears to have incorporated and deliberately built over late Neolithic/early Bronze Age remains.
'The 15-inch section of post we found was sticking up into the medieval foundations.'
'Most of these Neolithic sites have long since been abandoned, like Stonehenge.
'This is a living monument. People are still worshipping here. The earliest sacred development on the site was probably a stone circle with a cursus.
'Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains have all been found here.'
Archaeologists, who thought the post would be dated as Anglo-Saxon, were surprised to learn that it was from the neolithic or bronze age period
The church on the prehistoric site now belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church, which bought it for £50 from the Church of England in 1994.
The Orthodox group saved the church from dereliction and has a regular congregation of around 75.
Church priest Father Stephen Maxfield said: 'From the moment we first saw this building we thought it was very special.
'Now we know that it is and that it is quite unique. It is a place of transcendence and healing.'
It is believed the site had been reused several times for religious purposes over a period of 4,000 years. This image shows some of the animals remains unearthed at the church
The 15-inch section of post was found sticking into the church's medieval foundations
Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains have all been found at the site
Most of the UK's Neolithic pagan sites have either been lost or built over by Christian groups in the centuries since
The recent dig revealed that the current 30 ft church was originally three times longer than it is today
The Church of the Holy Fathers is found in Shrewsbury in the county of Shropshire
Read more: 4,000-year-old religious site found in Shropshire | Daily Mail Online
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