4,000-Year-Old Stonehenge-Like Sanctuary Unearthed in Netherlands, Revealing Ancient Rituals

Archaeologists in the center of the Netherlands have discovered a 4,000-year-old sanctuary with remarkable similarities to the well-known Stonehenge. This astonishing finding of ditches, burial mounds, and wooden buildings illuminated ancient rites and religious behaviors.

The discovery near the town of Tiel, 70 kilometers (45 miles) east of Rotterdam, is as big as three soccer fields.

Tiel called the find a "spectacular discovery" and shared its excitement on Facebook. The sanctuary, discovered on an industrial site, has captivated the interest of professionals and the general public, CNN reported.

This ancient sanctuary is mainly notable for its colossal mound that has the remains of around 60 people, including men, women, and children. The tunnels on the ridge were carefully placed so that direct sunlight would illuminate the holy area on the longest and shortest days of the year. The excellent astronomical knowledge that the archaic society that built the sanctuary had is shown by this solar alignment.

Archaeologists found unique items strategically positioned where the sun's rays reached the sanctuary's apertures during the excavation. These sacrifices comprised human skulls, animal bones, and priceless objects like bronze spearheads. Each item provides a window into this prehistoric location's ceremonial and spiritual traditions.

Important Location During Ancient Times

Tiel emphasized the find's importance by saying, "This 4,000-year-old religious sanctuary is a testament to the deep spiritual beliefs of our ancestors."

It added that the ancient sanctuary was a significant meeting spot where people recorded major dates, conducted religious ceremonies, and buried their loved ones. Rows of poles that were found along the walkways probably acted as procession markers and emphasized the sacred nature of the location.

In particular, the discovery of a green coral glass bead in one of the burials has produced convincing proof of long-distance commerce and ties between the inhabitants of this area and civilizations as far as Mesopotamia and modern-day Iraq, The Guardian reported.

The bead, a material foreign to the region, represents the presence of lengthy, old trade networks that allowed for the interchange of valuable items and cultures over vast distances.

Over six years, archaeologists methodically studied and dated over a million artifacts from the site, representing the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman Empire, and Middle Ages. A local museum in Tiel will house the majority of these remarkable relics. However, the famous National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, the Netherlands, will also show a few of them.

Thousands Gather at Stonehenge

In southern England, 8,000 sun worshippers recently gathered at Stonehenge. Druids, pagans, hippies, locals, and tourists were among the guests, decked up in various costumes, including absurd antlers.

On Wednesday, the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, these passionate people continued celebrating into the night while anticipating the dawn at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, per AP News.

On the vast Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge was built over many generations, beginning 5,000 years ago. The impressive stone circle, which first appeared in the late Neolithic era, approximately 2,500 B.C., is evidence of this prehistoric architectural achievement.

While it is known that specific stones, known as bluestones, came from the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, around 150 miles (240 kilometers) away, the origins of other stones remain a mystery to experts.