Stonehenge may be Europe's most famous prehistoric monument, but it's certainly not the biggest. It's not even the biggest stone circle.
Avebury, nearby Stonehenge in Wiltshire, is much larger than its more famous cousin.
But even bigger than both Stonehenge AND Avebury is Marden Henge, also in Wiltshire, which is Britain's, and possibly Europe's, largest prehistoric structure, stretching for 10.5 hectares, the equivalent of 10 football pitches.
That makes Marden Henge ten times larger than Stonehenge.
The henge, which is 4,000 years old, was once filled with a 45ft high mound surrounded by a water-filled ditch which was used for sacrificial offerings.
Unlike Stonehenge, Marden no longer has its stone circle but its circular shape is evident by a sunken circular feature which puzzles archaeologists.
And they believe the site is more important than either Stonehenge or Avebury.
Archaeologists begin dig on buried stone circle TEN times bigger than Stonehenge
By Daily Mail Reporter
30th June 2010
Daily Mail
Archaeologists have begun a major dig to unearth the hidden mysteries of a buried ancient stone circle site that is ten times bigger than Stonehenge.
The enormous 4,000 year old Marden Henge, in Wiltshire, is Britain's largest prehistoric structure stretching for 10.5 hectares, the equivalent of 10 football pitches.
English Heritage is carrying out a six-week dig hoping to reveal the secrets behind the giant henge which has baffled historians for centuries.
Most of the Neolithic henge has been destroyed over the years due to farming d erosion but minor excavations in 41 years ago estimate the site to between 2,000 and 2,400BC.
Archaeologists are due to begin digging at the 4,000 year old Marden Henge, in Wiltshire
Marden Henge was once a 45ft high mound surrounded by a water-filled ditch which was used for sacrificial offerings.
Although the henge no longer has its vast stone circle it has a large puzzling sunken circular feature which is almost unheard of at Neolithic sites.
A team of 15 archaeologists and historians believe the dig could show the ancient site is even more significant than both Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles.
The tallest prehistoric monument in Europe is Silbury Hill in Wiltshire which is 130 feet hight. It is also one of the tallest in the world and is similar in height to some of the smaller pyramids at the Giza Necropolis in Egypt. Archaeologists calculate that Silbury Hill was built about 4750 years ago and that it took 18 million man-hours - or 500 men working 15 years - to deposit and shape 324,000 cubic yards of earth and fill on top of a natural hill. In 1723, a skeleton and bridle were discovered inside the hill during tree planting on the summit. According to legend, this is the last resting place of a King Sil, represented in a lifesize gold statue and sitting on a golden horse (although this treasure has yet to be found). A local legend states that the mound was formed when Devil was carrying a bag of soil to drop on the citizens of nearby Marlborough, but he was stopped by the priests of Avebury. Britain probably has Western Europe's largest collection of prehistoric monuments.
Archaeologist Jim Leary, 34, said: 'Virtually nothing is known about this vast circle. We are starting from point zero.
'Marden Henge deserves to be understood more partly because of its size, but also
due to its proximity to the more famous stone circles at Avebury and Stonehenge.
'The relationship between the latter two sites - chronology of their construction, whether it is built by the same people, how they were used, is of immense interest.
'How Marden relates to them is another layer of interest which we want to study.
'We are potentially looking at a much more intricate system of Neolithic ritual sites in this part of the world than we previously thought.
'The study of Prehistory is entering a very exciting phase with lots of fascinating research and dating techniques emerging.
'The stunning discovery of Neolithic houses at Durrington Walls near Stonehenge a few years' ago, for example, has really turned things on its head.
'We certainly hope that this excavation will bring more pieces of the puzzle to light.'
Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. Marden Henge has lost its stone circle but scientists are confident they will find some remnant of the ancient circle beneath the surface
The dig is the culmination of a two year English Heritage project including aerial, topographic and geophysical surveys.
It has not been touched since an investigation in 1969 by Professor Geoffrey Wainwright which dated the henge from fragments of deer antler found in the area.
Marden Henge is situated near to the source of the River Avon, in Marden, north of Devizes, between Avebury and Stonehenge and close to ancient Silbury Hill.
The henge comprises a well-preserved bank covering 10.5 hectares and an internal ditch.
Unlike Stonehenge and Avebury or Castlerigg, in Cumbria, Marden Henge no longer has any surviving stone monuments.
Castlerigg stone circle in Cumbria
All that has remained is the evidence of a huge mound similar to a smaller at the centre of the henge, which collapsed in 1806 and was completely levelled by 1817.
Most experts now believe that significant ceremonial or ritual activity occurred within the ditches.
Archaeologists aim to find remnants of the Neolithic age within the remains of the mound.
The entire site is around 15 hectares and set within surrounding fields covering 40 hectares.
The dig began on Monday this week and will continue until August.
dailymail.co.uk
Avebury, nearby Stonehenge in Wiltshire, is much larger than its more famous cousin.
But even bigger than both Stonehenge AND Avebury is Marden Henge, also in Wiltshire, which is Britain's, and possibly Europe's, largest prehistoric structure, stretching for 10.5 hectares, the equivalent of 10 football pitches.
That makes Marden Henge ten times larger than Stonehenge.
The henge, which is 4,000 years old, was once filled with a 45ft high mound surrounded by a water-filled ditch which was used for sacrificial offerings.
Unlike Stonehenge, Marden no longer has its stone circle but its circular shape is evident by a sunken circular feature which puzzles archaeologists.
And they believe the site is more important than either Stonehenge or Avebury.
Archaeologists begin dig on buried stone circle TEN times bigger than Stonehenge
By Daily Mail Reporter
30th June 2010
Daily Mail
Archaeologists have begun a major dig to unearth the hidden mysteries of a buried ancient stone circle site that is ten times bigger than Stonehenge.
The enormous 4,000 year old Marden Henge, in Wiltshire, is Britain's largest prehistoric structure stretching for 10.5 hectares, the equivalent of 10 football pitches.
English Heritage is carrying out a six-week dig hoping to reveal the secrets behind the giant henge which has baffled historians for centuries.
Most of the Neolithic henge has been destroyed over the years due to farming d erosion but minor excavations in 41 years ago estimate the site to between 2,000 and 2,400BC.
Archaeologists are due to begin digging at the 4,000 year old Marden Henge, in Wiltshire
Marden Henge was once a 45ft high mound surrounded by a water-filled ditch which was used for sacrificial offerings.
Although the henge no longer has its vast stone circle it has a large puzzling sunken circular feature which is almost unheard of at Neolithic sites.
A team of 15 archaeologists and historians believe the dig could show the ancient site is even more significant than both Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles.
The tallest prehistoric monument in Europe is Silbury Hill in Wiltshire which is 130 feet hight. It is also one of the tallest in the world and is similar in height to some of the smaller pyramids at the Giza Necropolis in Egypt. Archaeologists calculate that Silbury Hill was built about 4750 years ago and that it took 18 million man-hours - or 500 men working 15 years - to deposit and shape 324,000 cubic yards of earth and fill on top of a natural hill. In 1723, a skeleton and bridle were discovered inside the hill during tree planting on the summit. According to legend, this is the last resting place of a King Sil, represented in a lifesize gold statue and sitting on a golden horse (although this treasure has yet to be found). A local legend states that the mound was formed when Devil was carrying a bag of soil to drop on the citizens of nearby Marlborough, but he was stopped by the priests of Avebury. Britain probably has Western Europe's largest collection of prehistoric monuments.
Archaeologist Jim Leary, 34, said: 'Virtually nothing is known about this vast circle. We are starting from point zero.
'Marden Henge deserves to be understood more partly because of its size, but also
due to its proximity to the more famous stone circles at Avebury and Stonehenge.
'The relationship between the latter two sites - chronology of their construction, whether it is built by the same people, how they were used, is of immense interest.
'How Marden relates to them is another layer of interest which we want to study.
'We are potentially looking at a much more intricate system of Neolithic ritual sites in this part of the world than we previously thought.
'The study of Prehistory is entering a very exciting phase with lots of fascinating research and dating techniques emerging.
'The stunning discovery of Neolithic houses at Durrington Walls near Stonehenge a few years' ago, for example, has really turned things on its head.
'We certainly hope that this excavation will bring more pieces of the puzzle to light.'
Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. Marden Henge has lost its stone circle but scientists are confident they will find some remnant of the ancient circle beneath the surface
The dig is the culmination of a two year English Heritage project including aerial, topographic and geophysical surveys.
It has not been touched since an investigation in 1969 by Professor Geoffrey Wainwright which dated the henge from fragments of deer antler found in the area.
Marden Henge is situated near to the source of the River Avon, in Marden, north of Devizes, between Avebury and Stonehenge and close to ancient Silbury Hill.
The henge comprises a well-preserved bank covering 10.5 hectares and an internal ditch.
Unlike Stonehenge and Avebury or Castlerigg, in Cumbria, Marden Henge no longer has any surviving stone monuments.
Castlerigg stone circle in Cumbria
All that has remained is the evidence of a huge mound similar to a smaller at the centre of the henge, which collapsed in 1806 and was completely levelled by 1817.
Most experts now believe that significant ceremonial or ritual activity occurred within the ditches.
Archaeologists aim to find remnants of the Neolithic age within the remains of the mound.
The entire site is around 15 hectares and set within surrounding fields covering 40 hectares.
The dig began on Monday this week and will continue until August.
dailymail.co.uk
Last edited: