Stonehenge is a ring of standing stones found in Wiltshire, which archaeologists believe date back as far as 3000BC. One of the most famous landmarks in the United Kingdom, most researchers believe it was used as a burial ground for more than 500 years. Opinions are divided on what the exact purpose of this construction was though, as well as how an ancient society managed to move such huge rocks.

However, archaeologists managed to re-discover hundreds of bone fragment that were first uncovered more than a century ago that may confirm suspicions.

The History Channel’s “Secrets of Stonehenge” revealed how excavations in the Twenties uncovered hundreds of bone fragments, but they did not have the technology at the time to understand them.

The narrator explained in 2017: “20th-century excavations also uncovered the dead of Stonehenge.

“In the 1920s, nearly 60 human burials were excavated here, many in the outer ring of the 56 pits known as the Aubrey Holes.

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They are a treasure trove of information

Secrets of Stonehenge

“But the discoveries were hardly acknowledged because these were cremation burials.”

“Not a single museum in Britain wanted the bones so, in 1935, they were reburied in Aubrey Hole number seven.”

Historian Mike Pitts revealed why the find was problematic for researcher 100 years ago.

He said: “These people had been cremated, so they didn’t have nice skulls with gleaming teeth to display – they had bundles of ash and bits of broken burnt bone.

“Archaeologists weren’t interested in those as objects.

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“At that time it was firmly believed that there was nothing you could learn from looking at cremated bones.

“The idea that Stonehenge was actually one of if not the biggest cremation in prehistoric Europe just disappears into the ground and forgotten about.”

In 2017, the bones were rediscovered by archaeologist Mike Pearson.

The documentary explained: “The bones were left undisturbed until today.

“Mike Parker Pearson has come to retrieve the dead of Stonehenge.

“To him, they are a treasure trove of information.”

Mr Pearson detailed why the discovery is so important to archaeologists and how it could prove the site was a burial ground.

He added: “With closer analysis of those remains, even though they’re burnt, we can work out peoples approximate ages.

“We may be able to work out if they are male or female.

“We may even be able to find out more about their standard of life, so it’s a really important opportunity to learn about the Stonehenge people.”

Archaeologists believe Stonehenge was constructed between 3000BC to 2000BC. 

The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. 

Radiocarbon dating suggests that the first bluestones were raised between 2400 and 2200BC, although they may have been at the site as early as 3000BC.

The site evolved in several construction phases spanning at least 1500 years.

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