Newly unearthed evidence of a Stonehenge-like circle in Denmark, which has been dubbed “Woodhenge,” may offer new insights into shared belief systems across Neolithic-era Europe.
“The Timber Circle is a Window into the Past”
According to experts, the recently discovered Danish monument closely resembles Woodhenge, a Neolithic henge and timber circle within the Stonehenge World Heritage Site in Wiltshire, England. The Danish timber circle, situated in Aars, North Jutland, is believed to have been constructed between 2600 BCE and 1600 BCE. It once comprised at least 45 wooden posts and had a diameter of nearly 100 feet.
“The excavation is a meticulous process, and we are thrilled by the discovery. We look forward to beginning the actual excavation of the site,” said excavation leader Andreas Bo Nielsen in a translated press release. “The timber circle is a window into the past, giving us a glimpse into our ancestors’ ceremonial and ritual activities.” The team has also examined other Neolithic sites in the North Jutland region, including burial mounds and settlements from the same time period as the Woodhenge site. Their findings may provide evidence of shared belief systems between ancient peoples in Denmark and England.
Is Denmark’s Woodhenge Connected to Stonehenge?
According to archaeologists, the Woodhenge in Denmark appeared to have had a similar axis as England’s Stonehenge and Woodhenge. These sites were “ritual centers and sites that are connected with the worship of the sun and the agricultural ritual practices of the time,” explained Sidsel Wåhlin, a curator at Vesthimmerlands Museum who is involved in the excavation. “It shows us that they are sharing the same worldviews on large-scale areas on how to be farmers, how society connects with the supernatural.”
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Wåhlin continued, “Building monuments on this scale, you need to understand why and how. If a British person from the time would have come to the site, they would have known what they are doing in there.” Wood samples from the Danish Woodhenge are currently being tested, but the team believes the posts were most likely made from oak. They also hope to do genetic testing to see whether there are any DNA connections between the Danish Woodhenge and similar sites in the United Kingdom, including Stonehenge, or other parts of Europe.
