Illustrative Image – The Stonehenge in South West England brings together thousands of people each year for the pagan solstice festival. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
Ceded to the British State not long ago, this major prehistoric site in the north of the country is now accessible to the public.
A major prehistoric site, dubbed the Stonehenge of the North because of its similarities to the famous and enigmatic Neolithic complex, opened to the public in northern England on Friday after being handed over to the state.
The Thornborough Henges are a collection of three mysterious circular structures dating from 3,500 to 2,500 BC. They represent one of the oldest prehistoric sites in the country and are thus reminiscent of Stonehenge in south-west England, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose standing stones form a set of mysterious circles that attract every year thousands of people for the pagan festival of the solstice. The government agency responsible for heritage protection, Historic England, announced on Friday that it was opening the site to the public. According to her, it is “probably the most important ancient site between Stonehenge (south-west of England, editor’s note) and the Orkney Isles in Scotland”.
An underrated British gem
The remains are still largely visible but have not been very well preserved, the site having been heavily cultivated over the years. Seen from the sky, the large circles are clearly visible. The Neolithic site represents “a connection to our ancient ancestors, across thousands of years, inspiring a sense of wonder and mystery”reacted the director of Historic England, Duncan Wilson. “We are delighted to have acquired this very important site for the nation, ensuring that these magnificent monuments are safe and preserved for generations to come.”
The opening to the public follows an agreement dating back to 2016 in which the construction company Tarmac sold the site, after years of controversy over the company’s quarrying in the area. Like Stonehenge, scholars believe the huge number of people who had to be mobilized to build the site indicates how important it was in the society of the time.
According to research, the site was visible for miles around. The large circles, more than 200 meters in diameter, were certainly places of gatherings for ceremonies but could also have served as places of meetings and trade. ‘The Thornborough Henges site has huge potential to help tell the UK’s story’responded Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, also a local MP, hoping for many visitors to “this little-known jewel of our history”.
TO HAVE ALSO – United Kingdom: an authorization soon necessary to travel on British territory