Believed to have served as a centre for religious gatherings, the site contains numerous evidence of feasts and large gatherings.
In mid-June, a team from Wessex Archaeology discovered an ancient structure that may have served as an early "prototype" for aligning Stonehenge on solstice days, the organization reported.
Situated approximately five kilometres from Stonehenge, the site has been radiocarbon dated to approximately 5,000 years ago – around the time of Stonehenge's earliest construction.
The excavations were carried out as part of the UK Ministry of Defence's programme to establish military bases ahead of the construction of new accommodation for soldiers returning from Germany.
Believed to have served as a centre for religious gatherings, the site contains numerous evidence of feasts and large gatherings.
It also suggests that "ancient people were using this feat of astronomical engineering to celebrate the solstice here at least 500 years before the stones at Stonehenge were aligned," Wessex Archaeology said in a statement.
Prehistoric people used poles to orient themselves to the solstices.
Two pits were discovered in the center of the archaeological site, which, according to researchers, were intended for the installation of two wooden posts located 120 meters apart.
Analysis of the pits by Wessex Archaeology showed that the position of the two poles formed a line pointing towards the rising sun at the summer solstice and the setting sun at the winter solstice.
Leading celestial archaeologist Dr. Fabio Silva used reconstructions of the ancient sky, landscape, and horizon to show how this structure would have aligned with the solstices to within 1 degree.
«"This discovery helps us understand Stonehenge not as a single creation, but as part of a much longer dialogue between people, earth, and sky," Silva said. "The alignment shows that communities were already interacting with both the summer and winter solstices in the Stonehenge landscape centuries before the sarsen stones were erected.".
«"Stonehenge, rather than marking the beginning of history, now appears to have emerged from traditions and customs that have much deeper roots in the landscape.".
The location of the pits is closed to the general public.
The earliest example of structures built specifically for the winter solstice.
«"In a few days, Stonehenge will be full of people celebrating the summer solstice. But few people know that 5,000 years ago, on a nearby hillside overlooking modern-day Bulford, people were doing the same thing—venerating and celebrating the summer solstice sunrise," said lead archaeologist Dr. Phil Harding. "The sun was incredibly important to these prehistoric communities, and they were able to accurately determine and record the summer solstice sunrise.".
«"This discovery is probably one of the greatest of my career, and its significance lies in how ancient it is. Until now, our knowledge of this ancient astronomical achievement was based on Stonehenge and other monuments of a similar period, but what we discovered at Bulford predates those famous stones we know so well by 500 years. I am incredibly proud to be an archaeologist.".
Dr Matt Lavers, senior research director at Wessex Archaeology, added that the discovery "is of fundamental importance as it is the earliest example of people building structures here that are directly aligned with the solstice.".
«"When we talk about the solstice, we're talking about religion. About how prehistoric peoples understood the cosmos, the world, and their place in it," Lavers said. "What we see at Bulford, and later at Stonehenge, is a way to mark and signify the passage of time, but it's also a way to ensure that the world continues to function as it should.".
«"They're probably addressing their deities this way, saying, 'Please remember us, keep us warm and safe.' It's a religious event. That's why it's so important.".