Archaeologists have uncovered a 4000-year-old structure that is laid out in a way strongly reminiscent of Stonehenge. Though the sanctuary lacks the big stones that Stonehenge boasts, it’s made up of ditches and burial mounds that resemble its British counterpart.
Researchers are still debating what exactly Stonehenge was used for, but it’s clear that the sanctuary contains much more than just the monument. All around the stone monument, there’s a network of roads, mounds, and other structures that were likely spiritual in nature. Similarly, the sanctuary in the Netherlands is pretty vast.
It’s around four hectares (10 acres) in size and, to make it even more interesting, the entire site is filled with evidence of ritual activity, including animal remains, human skulls, and valuable objects.
Unlike Stonehenge, which is famous for its towering stones, the Dutch sanctuary was built around three earthen burial mounds, wooden posts, pathways, and ditches. Some of the offerings were discovered along alignments corresponding to the sun’s position on particular days of the year. This hints at the site also being used as a calendar.
Join the Conversation
VIP members get the ability to comment on articles.