London, October 3 (ANI): Archaeologists have discovered Stonehenge's 'little sister', dubbed 'Bluehenge', which is located a mile away from Britain's famous circle of prehistoric standing stones.
According to a report in the Telegraph, the new circle unearthed in secret over the summer, is one of the most important prehistoric finds in decades.
Researchers have named the site as 'Bluehenge' after the colour of the 27 Welsh stones it once incorporated.
Bluehenge was put up 5,000 years ago - around the same time as work began on Stonehenge, and appears to be a miniature version of it, according to researchers.
The two circles stood together for hundreds of years before Bluehenge was dismantled. Researchers believe its stones were later used to enlarge Stonehenge.
Bluehenge lies at the end of the 'Avenue' - a pathway that connected Stonehenge to the Avon.
All that remains of the smaller circle are the holes of 27 giant stones set on a ramped mount. Chips of stone found in the holes appear to be the same as those used in Stonehenge.
The stone, made of Preseli Spotted Dolerite - a chemically altered igneous rock which is harder than granite - were mined in the Preseli Mountains in Pembrokeshire and dragged and floated 200 miles to the site on the banks of the river.
The new monument was discovered by Professor Mike Parker Pearson, of Sheffield University, who believes that the monuments were linked to rituals of life and death.
"This (new) henge is very important because it forms part of the picture of ceremonial monuments in the area and puts Stonehenge into context," said Professor Geoffrey Wainwright, who found the source of the Stonehenge stones in Wales with Professor Darvill.
"It's no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape," he added.
Professor Tim Darvill, an expert on the monument, from Bournemouth University, said he wouldn't be surprised if more circles were still to be found. (ANI)
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