A team from Wessex Research has unearthed what may be a prototype for the famous Stonehenge. The structure, found near the ancient site, features two postholes aligned with the solstices, mirroring the alignment seen at Stonehenge today.

This discovery was made during excavations in Bulford, three miles from Stonehenge, ahead of new housing construction by the British Ministry of Defense. Archaeologists dated the pits to around 2950 BC, coinciding with the earliest phase of Stonehenge’s construction.

“The alignment shows that communities were already engaging with both solstices in the Stonehenge landscape centuries before the sarsen stones were raised,” explained Skyscape archaeologist Fabio Silva. This suggests Stonehenge emerged from much older traditions.

Senior research manager Matt Leivers commented, “We’re seeing the religion of the Stone Age made manifest in the ground.” Despite not knowing what significance the sun had for these ancient people, it’s clear this event was a major religious milestone inscribed over millennia.”

The discovery, confirmed by archaeologist Phil Harding, who said it may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, adds depth to our understanding of Neolithic ceremonial practices and the importance of solar alignments in prehistoric life.