The researchers have found buried evidence of more than 15 previously unknown or poorly understood late Neolithic monuments: henges, barrows, segmented ditches, pits. To Gaffney, these findings suggest a scale of activity around Stonehenge far beyond what was previously suspected.

Are there bodies under Stonehenge?

Stonehenge is an ancient monument in southern England. It features a ring of massive stones. Underground pits hold human remains. Researchers analyzed some of the remains, which had been cremated and buried around 5,000 to 4,400 years ago.

Is there a tunnel under Stonehenge?

The Stonehenge road tunnel is a planned tunnel in Wiltshire, England, drawn up by Highways England to upgrade the A303 road. It would move the A303 into a tunnel under the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, completing the removal of traffic begun with the 2012 closure of the A344 road.

What did they find underneath Stonehenge?

Archaeologists said Monday that they have discovered a major prehistoric monument under the earth near Stonehenge that could shed new light on the origins of the mystical stone circle in southwestern England.

How many were buried at Stonehenge?

In Stonehenges early years, ancient people used it as a cemetery. In fact, excavations from 1919 to 1926 revealed the cremated remains of up to 58 people, making Stonehenge one of the largest Late Neolithic burial sites known in Britain, the researchers wrote in the study, published online today (Aug.

Is Stonehenge a burial ground?

But until recently, researchers thought that people were only buried at the site for about 100 years, from about 2700 to 2600 B.C. The new research, though, suggests that the site was used for burying cremated remains for at least 500 years.

Why is Stonehenge in danger?

Unesco has confirmed that Stonehenge could be stripped of its world heritage site status, over its concern that a road tunnel, backed by the government, would irreversibly damage an area of “outstanding universal value”.

Is Stonehenge in danger?

Now, the United Nations heritage agency has confirmed that Stonehenge will indeed be added to its Heritage in Danger list and then potentially stripped of its World Heritage Site status if a roughly $2.3 billion highway tunnel near the archaeological icon is permitted to be built as planned.

Why are they digging under Stonehenge?

Supporters say the highway tunnel will relieve traffic congestion and improve the visitor experience. Opponents fear the loss of ancient artifacts still hidden underground. A traffic-snarled stretch of road near Stonehenge will be replaced with a tunnel, the British government has announced.

How big are the stones in the Stonehenge?

The biggest of Stonehenges stones, known as sarsens, are up to 30 feet (9 meters) tall and weigh 25 tons (22.6 metric tons) on average. It is widely believed that they were brought from Marlborough Downs, a distance of 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the north.

What is purpose of Stonehenge?

There is strong archaeological evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, at least for part of its long history, but most scholars believe it served other functions as well—either as a ceremonial site, a religious pilgrimage destination, a final resting place for royalty or a memorial erected to honor and

Is Stonehenge being removed?

Stonehenge is expected to be stripped of its status if the two-mile tunnel is built on the site as planned. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, gave the green light for the scheme in November despite warnings from Unesco that it would have on “adverse impact” on the areas historic value.