Henge discovery rewrites history

A henge discovered in Northumberland may be 1,000 years older than similar sites in Britain, including Stonehenge.

Dating of the site at Milfield Basin, near Wooler, by a student suggests the circular monument may have been erected 6,000 years ago, meaning early Neolithic man was more active and organised than previously thought. The research archaeologist, Clive Waddington, said it was a "phenomenal discovery", making it the oldest henge in the country "by a good 800 years. We did two carbon datings and they were within 90 years of each other, so we are completely sure of our facts. This site is critical to our understanding of the archaeology of northern Britain. They were doing things on a very big scale in north Northumberland almost 6,000 years ago." Michael Streeter