ARCHAEOLOGY: Stonehenge Path Uncovered By Archaeologists

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Stonehenge Path Uncovered By Archaeologists

written by Staff

Thursday September 12, 2013

Scientists uncovered a path to Stonehenge while dismantling a modern road that runs near the ancient site. Underneath the pavement, archaeologists discovered two ditches.

The ditches are the remnants of an ancient pathway to Stonehenge called the avenue. While they have long-known of the avenue’s existence, the modern roadway had cut the delicate pathway in half.

LiveScience reports that the new discovery confirmed archaeologists’ theory that the avenue was a path to the monument.

An exceptionally dry season in the region also helped scientists find another clue to Stonehenge’s past — the imprints where three stones used to lie in the main circle. The imprints suggest the massive tone monument was once a complete circle.

English Heritage, which maintains Stonehenge, planned the removal of the A344 road that runs near the site for years. Archaeologists also suspected the A344 covered at least part of the path to Stonehenge. However, they didn’t expect to see any traces of the earthwork, because the modern road was recessed into the ground from use.

NBC News notes that, after workers pulled the tarmac up, scientists discovered two parallel ditches almost perpendicular to the road. While the banks of the pathway under the road disappeared, the ditches remained and connected to the uncovered parts of the avenue.

The ancient pathway to Stonehenge is about 98 feet wide and extends 0.3 miles straight to the monument. From there, it travels another 1.5 miles to the Avon River in the village of Amesbury.

While the avenue’s purpose isn’t known, much like the purpose and meaning behind Stonehenge, archaeologists have some ideas. Some have argued that Stonehenge is a massive sound illusion, while others believe it was a symbol of unity or a monument to a sacred hunting ground.

While the theories persist, there may be no way of knowing exactly what the monument was used for. However, archaeologists do know that an ancient path once led to Stonehenge.