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Archaeologists from Wessex Archaeology have uncovered a 5,000‑year‑old wooden monument at Bulford, only 5 km from Stonehenge, that aligns precisely with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset, offering a potential prototype for the later iconic stone circle.Discovery of a Solstice‑Aligned Monument Near StonehengeThe site consists of two post‑holes spaced about 120 m apart, each once holding a wooden pole 3‑4 m tall. The poles left only subtle pits amid a scatter of smaller rubbish pits, making the find easy to miss. Lead archaeologist Phil Harding recognised the alignment only after drawing a line between the larger pits and noting its 50‑degree offset from true north, matching the midsummer sunrise direction.Radiocarbon Dating and Structural Measurements Reveal Early Solar Knowledge2950 BC: Radiocarbon analysis dates the monument to this period, contemporaneous with the earliest phase of Stonehenge.Post‑hole depth: ~1 m, indicating pole height of 3‑4 m.Alignment: Poles line up with midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset within a few degrees.Associated artifact: A disc‑shaped flint knife, possibly representing the sun, was found in a smaller, aligned pit.Implications for Understanding Neolithic Ritual LandscapesSenior research manager Matt Leivers argues the monument demonstrates a “religion of the stone age” expressed through precise astronomical marking. Its proximity and chronological overlap with Stonehenge suggest the same communities may have built both sites, indicating a broader, landscape‑wide tradition of solar worship.Future Research Directions and Potential Re‑evaluation of Stonehenge OriginsFurther excavation and high‑resolution surveying are planned to determine whether additional, yet‑undiscovered, solar‑aligned features exist around the Stonehenge horizon. If confirmed, the Bulford monument could prompt a reassessment of the timeline and cultural motivations behind the construction of Britain’s most famous prehistoric monument.