Ancient Burial Site In Dorset Prompts Reconsideration Of Stonehenge's Dating And Historical Significance.

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New Discoveries at the Flagstones Burial Site

Overview of Flagstones Discovery

A significant archaeological site known as Flagstones, located near Dorchester in Dorset, England, has recently been identified as the earliest large circular enclosure in Britain. This discovery may require experts to reconsider the dating of the famous Stonehenge monument.

Reevaluation of Dating

Originally thought to date back to around 3000 BC, Flagstones has now been re-dated to approximately 3200 BC. This update, made by researchers from the University of Exeter and Historic England, places Flagstones around 200 years older than previous assumptions. The findings were announced after extensive examinations of various artifacts, including human remains, red deer antlers, and charcoal through advanced radiocarbon dating methods.

Key Findings:

New dating at 3200 BC
Original dating at approx. 3000 BC
Advanced radiocarbon analysis conducted

Archaeological Insights

Importance of Dr. Susan Greaney’s Research

Dr. Susan Greaney, an archaeologist involved in the study, emphasizes the importance of Flagstones in understanding the evolution of ceremonial and funeral monuments in Britain. She pointed out that the design of Flagstones is strikingly similar to the early phase of Stonehenge, which is dated to around 2900 BC.

Quote from Dr. Greaney: “Could Stonehenge have been a copy of Flagstones? Or do these findings suggest our current dating of Stonehenge might need revision?”

Details of the Monument

Flagstones was uncovered during the construction of a bypass in the 1980s. The site itself includes a circular ditch approximately 100 meters in diameter, which may have been surrounded by an earthwork bank.

Preservation of Artifacts

Half of the original Flagstones site has been covered up by the Dorchester bypass. Meanwhile, the other half lies under Max Gate, the former home of famed author Thomas Hardy, which is now managed by the National Trust. Artifacts collected from the site are preserved at the Dorset Museum.

Burials and Findings

Types of Burials at the Site

Excavations at Flagstones revealed at least four burials contained within the enclosure pits. Among these were a cremated adult and three children who had not been cremated. In addition, there were other findings, including three partial cremations of adults in different areas of the site.

New Chronological Insights

Previous assumptions indicated that the site was built around the same time as the initial phase of Stonehenge. However, new evidence suggests that activities such as pit digging began as early as 3650 BC at Flagstones. Following a long gap in activity, the circular ditch enclosure was established around 3200 BC.

Additional Note: The burial of a young adult male discovered beneath a large sarsen stone at the center occurred nearly 1,000 years after the site’s original usage.

Connections with Other Sites

Flagstones is thought to have connections with other important archaeological locations, including a site in Llandegai in Gwynedd. The research indicates that Flagstones might have acted as a model for the construction of later monuments, such as Stonehenge.

Unique Features of Flagstones

Dr. Greaney highlights that Flagstones possesses unique characteristics, being a perfectly circular ditched enclosure complete with associated burials and cremations. Its design bears resemblance to earlier structures known as causewayed enclosures, as well as later constructions termed henges.