A remarkable discovery in northern England has captured the attention of historians and archaeologists alike. Members of the Wigan Archaeological Society uncovered a 4,500-year-old Bronze Age burial site near Wigan, between Manchester and Liverpool. Even more astonishing, evidence suggests the burial ground may have been built atop a much older Neolithic henge dating back nearly 12,000 years.
The Discovery
- The find began in 2022 when amateur archaeologists located human remains on farmland in Aspull.
- Initial analysis confirmed the remains belonged to the Bronze Age, with cremation urns and funeral pyres discovered at the site.
- Radiocarbon dating conducted with university support verified the burial’s age at approximately 4,500 years.
Signs of a Neolithic Monument
- Excavators noticed the burial site’s unusual oval-shaped ring ditch with a single entrance.
- According to society member William Aldridge, this design is inconsistent with Bronze Age practices but aligns with Neolithic henge structures.
- Henges are prehistoric circular monuments, often marked by stone or wooden posts, surrounded by earthworks.
- If confirmed, the site could date back to 10,000 BCE, making it one of the oldest ceremonial monuments in the region.
Historical Context
- Wigan has a rich archaeological record. Past discoveries include a Roman bathhouse and fort, pointing to its significance as the Roman settlement Coccium.
- The Bronze Age community may have chosen the Aspull site for burials because of its longstanding ceremonial importance.
- Society member Chris Drabble noted that “something made it special,” suggesting the land carried cultural or spiritual weight across millennia.
Why It Matters
This discovery highlights the layered history of human settlement in Britain, where sites were reused and repurposed across different eras. The potential overlap of Bronze Age burials with a Neolithic henge underscores how ancient communities built upon the legacies of their predecessors.
Source: Yahoo News Canada
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