Researchers believe the monument is one of the largest Neolithic finds of its kind ever discovered in Britain. Consisting of 20 pits or shafts, the monument forms a wide circle around the ancient settlement of Durrington Walls, which is close to the sacred stone circle of Stonehenge (widely considered to be Britain's most important historical landmark). It's hoped that the discovery could reveal key information about the people and societies of the Neolithic world.

 

Researchers say the pits are about 1.2 miles (2 km) in diameter and date back to the same period as Stonehenge, about 4500 years ago. It's believed that the ring of pits could have been used as a boundary to protect Durrington Walls, or as a divider between the Durrington and Stonehenge areas.