Archaeologists find second Stonehenge

Archaeologists have discovered a wooden version of British prehistoric monument Stonehenge at the same site.

By using virtual technology, the archaeologists found a circular ditch less than one kilometre away from the iconic stone circle, which is thought to date back to the Neolithic period 2,000 to 4,000 years ago.

"This finding is remarkable," said Vince Gaffney, professor of archaeology at the University of Birmingham, and the project's leader. "It will completely change the way we think about the landscape around Stonehenge."

The new henge is a ditch with internal pits about a metre wide which could have held timber posts. It measures 25 metres in diameter, just five metres less than Stonehenge.

The team believes it was built around the same time as Stonehenge. The archaeologists are just two weeks into a three-year multi-million euro project using cutting-edge virtual mapping technology.

"We will not excavate. This is a virtual dig. We couldn't excavate at this scale anyway," Gaffney said.

He is confident the team will uncover more remains at the site as the project continues: "I have absolutely no doubt. Stonehenge is not just by itself. We have a massive virtual landscape (to explore)," he added.