Archaeologists have uncovered new evidence that could change our understanding of Neolithic Britain. The Flagstones burial site, located in Dorset, England, has been re-dated to approximately 3,200 BC—making it 200 years older than previously thought. This revelation places Flagstones as the earliest known large circular enclosure in Britain, potentially influencing the creation of other monumental sites, including the iconic Stonehenge.
Connections with Other Neolithic Sites
The findings, published by researchers from the University of Exeter and Historic England, have not only reshaped the timeline of Neolithic Britain but also raised new questions about the origins of ceremonial and burial structures.
The Flagstones site also reveals connections with other significant Neolithic monuments across Britain and beyond. This suggests that the site shares similarities with Llandygái Henge A in Gwynedd, Wales, as well as locations in Ireland.
As Dr. Greaney concluded, “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.”
The Structure and Significance of Flagstones
The Flagstones site is made up of a 100-meter diameter circular ditch, formed by intersecting pits, which likely supported an earthwork bank. Half of the site now lies beneath the Dorchester bypass, with the remaining portion located underneath Max Gate, the former home of novelist Thomas Hardy.
Excavations at the site revealed at least four burials within the circular enclosure—one cremated adult and three children who had not been cremated—along with partial cremations of adults found elsewhere on the site.
Flagstones’ design and burial practices closely resemble those of Stonehenge, particularly in its first phase, which was thought to have been constructed around 2,900 BC.
Dr. Greaney notes that “the chronology of Flagstones is essential for understanding the changing sequence of ceremonial and funeral monuments in Britain.” This could mean that Flagstones predates Stonehenge and may have influenced its design and construction.
Credit: University of Exeter
What New Discoveries Tell Us About Neolithic Rituals
The revised dating of Flagstones offers valuable insights into early Neolithic ceremonial and funeral practices. Radiocarbon measurements revealed that early Neolithic activity, such as the digging of pits, took place around 3,650 BC.
The circular ditched enclosure itself was created around 3,200 BC, with burials placed within it shortly thereafter. Interestingly, a burial under a large sarsen stone at the center of the site dates to approximately 1,000 years after the initial use of the enclosure.
“The chronology of Flagstones is essential for understanding the changing sequence of ceremonial and funeral monuments in Britain,” Dr. Greaney explained. This revised timeline prompts a reevaluation of the dating of Stonehenge.
“Could Stonehenge have been a copy of Flagstones? Or do these findings suggest our current dating of Stonehenge might need revision?” Dr. Greaney asked, highlighting the need for further research into the connections between these two monumental sites.
