A recent archaeological study conducted at the prehistoric funerary site of Flagstones, located in Dorset, has revealed that this circular enclosure is the oldest known of its kind in Britain.

Thanks to advanced radiocarbon analysis applied to human remains, red deer antlers, and charcoal found in the area, researchers have established that Flagstones was built around 3200 BC, approximately two centuries earlier than previously thought. This finding suggests that the site may have served as a prototype for later iconic monuments, such as Stonehenge.

The study, carried out by a team from the University of Exeter in collaboration with Historic England, has been published in the latest edition of the specialist journal Antiquity.

Flagstones prehistoric circle stonehenge
Aerial view of the Flagstones excavations in the 1980s. Credit: Dorset Museum

A Unique Monument in the Neolithic Timeline

Flagstones stands out as a circular enclosure surrounded by a meticulously designed ditch, with evidence of associated burials and cremations. Dr. Susan Greaney, an expert in Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments at the University of Exeter’s Department of Archaeology and History, highlights the uniqueness of this discovery: In some aspects, it resembles the earliest causewayed enclosures, while in others, it recalls later structures known as henges. However, until now, we did not know exactly where Flagstones fit within this evolutionary sequence. The new chronology shows that its construction took place much earlier than we had imagined.

Discovered in the 1980s during the construction of the Dorchester bypass, the archaeological site consists of a circular ditch approximately 100 meters (328 feet) in diameter, made up of interconnected trenches that likely formed an earthen bank.

Currently, half of the monument lies beneath the bypass, while the rest is located under Max Gate, the former residence of writer Thomas Hardy, which now belongs to the National Trust. Flagstones is designated as a protected monument, with its findings and excavation records preserved at the Dorset Museum.

Funerary Evidence and Parallels with Stonehenge

Excavations at Flagstones have uncovered at least four burials within its ditches: one cremated adult and three non-cremated children. Additionally, three partial adult cremations were found in other parts of the site. Due to its similarities to the earliest phase of Stonehenge, dated to around 2900 BC, it was previously assumed that Flagstones belonged to a similar period.

Flagstones prehistoric circle stonehenge
Plan of the excavated, western half of the Flagstones enclosure. Credit: Susan Greaney

However, a scientific dating program led by Dr. Greaney and Dr. Peter Marshall, in collaboration with laboratories at ETH Zurich and the University of Groningen, has provided 23 new radiocarbon measurements that have drastically altered perceptions of the monument.

The combined analysis of these dates with archaeological information has revealed that early activity at Flagstones, including the excavation of pits, took place around 3650 BC. After a long period of inactivity, the construction of the circular ditch enclosure occurred around 3200 BC, followed immediately by the placement of burials within it. Intriguingly, a later burial of a young adult was found beneath a large sarsen stone at the center of the enclosure, dated to approximately a thousand years after its original construction.

The chronology of Flagstones is crucial for understanding the evolution of ceremonial and funerary monuments in Britain, states Dr. Greaney. The closest monument in design is the initial phase of Stonehenge, but we now know that Flagstones predates it. Could Stonehenge be a version inspired by Flagstones? Or should we reconsider the estimated dates for Stonehenge’s construction?

Flagstones also shows connections with other significant sites, such as the “Henge” A of Llandygái in Gwynedd, Wales, and other locations in Ireland, as indicated by the artifacts and funerary practices observed. These findings reinforce the idea of an interconnected network of Neolithic communities across Britain and even beyond.

SOURCES

University of Exeter

Greaney S, Hajdas I, Dee M, Marshall P. Beginning of the circle? Revised chronologies for Flagstones and Alington Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset. Antiquity. Published online 2025:1-17. doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.28

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