New monument discovered near Britain's Stonehenge landmark

Jul 22, 2010, 10:11 GMT

London - British archeologists working near Stonehenge have discovered a 'timber equivalent' of the world-renowned prehistoric monument, the BBC reported Thursday.

The scientists found a circular ditch containing deep pits during their excavations about 900 metres away from the giant stones, which are located near the city of Salisbury.

They believe that the pits once held wooden posts.

'It's a timber equivalent to Stonehenge,' project leader Vince Gaffney, a professor at the University of Birmingham, told the BBC. 'From the general shape, we would guess it dates backs to about the time when Stonehenge was emerging at its most complex.'

'This is probably the first major ceremonial monument that has been found in the past 50 years or so,' he added.

It still remains unclear what the 4,500-year-old stone circle was used for and how the giant boulders were transported and stacked up. Experts assume that Stonehenge was initially a cemetery.

Other prehistoric traces have frequently been found in the area before. The discovery of the wooden henge nevertheless caught the archeologists by surprise. Gaffney described it as 'exceptional.'

'The presumption was this was just an empty field - now you've got a major ceremonial monument looking at Stonehenge,' he told the BBC.

He added that he is 'certain' more will be found in the area.

Stonehenge attracts thousands of tourists every year, along with druids because of its mystical significance.