An ancient archaeological structure, considered a "prototype" of Stonehenge, has been discovered just a few kilometers away in southern England.
Oxu.Az reports citing AP News. The structure consists of two wooden pillars located 120 meters apart, aligned with the sunrise on the summer solstice.
Researchers believe the monument was built about five centuries before Stonehenge. The Stonehenge complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, began to be built in stages on Salisbury Plain five thousand years ago.
The famous stone circle itself was erected in 2500 BC. The purpose of the monument remains debated. The most widespread theory is that Stonehenge was a temple oriented to the sun's movement, precisely aligned with solstices.
English Heritage stated there are various theories about Stonehenge's purpose. Some experts consider it an ancient coronation site for kings, a druid temple, or an astronomical "computer" predicting eclipses and solar events.
