Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – A team of Danish archaeologists has uncovered an ancient structure with notable similarities to Stonehenge. Located on the open plains of southern England, Stonehenge is a historical marvel that has intrigued researchers and visitors for centuries with its mysterious stone circle.
The excavation team at the North Jutland timber circle site has made an extraordinary discovery. They have provided overlayed images that illustrate the original positions of the posts, offering valuable insights into this significant archaeological find. Credit: Vesthimmerlands Museum
Recently, archaeologists from Vesthimmerlands Museum made a remarkable discovery near the Danish town of Aars, where they found a similar circular structure built entirely of wood.
This “woodhenge” consists of at least 45 wooden posts arranged in a ring approximately 30 meters (100 feet) in diameter. Researchers believe this finding could provide insights into connections between Neolithic cultures across Europe. The structure is estimated to date back to around 2000 B.C. and was initially mistaken for post holes until excavation leader Andreas Bo Nielsen and museum curator Sidsel Wåhlin recognized its significance.
“This is an extraordinary find,” states Sidsel Wåhlin, a curator at the Vesthimmerland Museum in Aars, in a press release. The timber circle offers valuable insights into this internationally connected prehistoric society’s ritual practices and social structures, highlighting Denmark’s rich archaeological heritage.
Sidsel Wåhlin, front left, and Andreas Bo Nielsen, right, and their fellow excavation team members Jeppe Skovgaard and Julie Baunvig Aagaard. Credit: Vesthimmerlands Museum
Erected between 2600 and 1600 B.C, during the late Neolithic period or early Bronze Age, this discovery joins several similar finds nearby. Just over a mile away lies another small wooden henge, and the area is dotted with prehistoric settlements. These findings suggest that the builders of this newly discovered circle were part of a complex and interconnected ritual and social environment.
Similar wooden circles have been found in Britain, Ireland, and other parts of Europe, often associated with sun worship and agricultural rituals. Stonehenge itself, constructed between 3100 B.C. and 1600 B.C., features massive stone slabs arranged in circles. Despite extensive study, experts continue to debate its precise purpose.
“The excavation is a meticulous process, and we are delighted with the discovery and look forward to dig. The timber circle is not only a significant archaeological discovery but also a window into the past, offering us a glimpse of our ancestors’ ceremonial and ritual activities,” Andreas Bo Nielsen, Excavation Manager explained.
An aerial photograph reveals the locations of post holes that once supported a timber circle in Denmark. Credit: Vesthimmerlands Museum
The timber circle is located within a ritual landscape at Stenild, which includes one of Denmark’s few registered small wood henges situated approximately two kilometers away. This area also features a significant necropolis from the late Neolithic period and several settlements from the same era. These elements collectively enhance the significance of the discovery, indicating a complex and interconnected ritualistic and social environment.
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Excavation efforts have commenced on the circle’s postholes and other features. Vesthimmerlands Museum is committed to studying this important find further, aiming to deepen our understanding of prehistoric societies. The museum plans to release more detailed information about the excavation process and its findings in the upcoming months.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
