Conny Waters – MessageToEagle.com – Stonehenge is widely recognized as one of the most famous ancient stone circles, yet it is not the only Neolithic circular structure created by our ancestors. In fact, similar ancient formations, some even older, have been discovered at various sites. Recent research highlights that Flagstones in Dorset dates back to 3,200 BC and provides new insights into the origins of monumental architecture during the Neolithic period.
Credit: Greaney S, Hajdas I, Dee M, Marshall P., Antiquity
Archaeological investigations at the prehistoric burial site known as Flagstones have identified it as Britain’s earliest known large circular enclosure. Situated near Dorchester, this monument has been redated to around 3,200 BC—approximately two centuries earlier than previously estimated—thanks to advanced radiocarbon analysis of artifacts found there, including human remains, red deer antlers, and charcoal. This analysis indicates that Flagstones might have served as a prototype for later monuments such as Stonehenge.
Flagstones enclosure seen shortly after construction in the middle Neolithic period. Reconstruction by Jennie Anderson.
“Flagstones is an unusual monument; a perfectly circular ditched enclosure, with burials and cremations associated with it,” says Dr Susan Greaney, a specialist in Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, in Exeter’s Department of Archaeology and History. “In some respects, it looks like monuments that come earlier, which we call causewayed enclosures, and in others, it looks a bit like things that come later that we call henges. But we didn’t know where it sat between these types of monuments – and the revised chronology places it in an earlier period than we expected.”
Aerial shot of excavation of Flagstones – courtesy of Dorset Museum
Flagstones was uncovered in the 1980s during the construction of the Dorchester bypass. Excavations revealed that it consists of a circular ditch, 100 meters in diameter, made from intersecting pits and likely accompanied by an earthwork bank. Currently, half of this site is beneath the bypass, while the other half lies under Max Gate, Thomas Hardy’s former residence now owned by the National Trust. Flagstones is recognized as a scheduled monument with its artifacts and excavation records preserved at Dorset Museum.
The site contained at least four burials within its enclosure pits: one cremated adult and three non-cremated children. Additionally, there were three partial cremations of adults found elsewhere on-site. Due to its resemblance to Stonehenge’s initial phase dating back to around 2900 BC, it was initially assumed that Flagstones might be from a similar period.
Credit: University of Exeter
A new scientific dating program led by Dr. Greaney and Dr. Peter Marshall—formerly Scientific Dating Coordinator at Historic England—involved collaboration with laboratories at ETH Zürich and the University of Groningen, resulting in 23 new radiocarbon measurements being obtained for further analysis.
By integrating radiocarbon dating with archaeological findings, it has been determined that early Neolithic activities, such as pit digging, occurred around 3650 BC. Following a significant hiatus of several centuries, a circular ditched enclosure was constructed around 3200 BC, and burials were promptly conducted within this space. Notably, approximately 1,000 years after the enclosure’s initial use, a subsequent burial of a young adult male took place beneath a large sarsen stone at the center of the site.
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“The chronology of Flagstones is essential for understanding the changing sequence of ceremonial and funeral monuments in Britain,” said Dr Greaney. “The ‘sister’ monument to Flagstones is Stonehenge, whose first phase is almost identical, but it dates to around 2900 BC. Could Stonehenge have been a copy of Flagstones? Or do these findings suggest our current dating of Stonehenge might need revision?”
Flagstones provides insights into connections with other notable sites, such as Llandygái ‘Henge’ A in Gwynedd, Wales, and specific locations in Ireland. This is suggested by the artefacts and burial practices discovered. These findings underscore the interconnectedness of Neolithic communities across Britain and beyond, illustrating a network of cultural exchange during that period.
The study was published in the journal Antiquity
Written by Conny Waters – MessageToEagle.com – AncientPages.com Staff Writer