Stone Age human 'campsite’ unearthed in New Forest archaeological dig

The archaeologists hope further investigations of the ring ditch will transform our understanding of both ancient monument construction and local burial practices.

Mr Milward said: “Monuments with entrances and apparent open interiors such as this one may have been meeting spaces used to carry out rituals and ceremonies that were important to the local community.

“There is evidence here of regular modification and an apparent continuity of use over a long time — implying that this monument was perhaps more than a burial place and played a significant role in the community for many generations.”

Archaeological interest in the area intensified after the site showed as a crop mark in an aerial image shot in 2013 during a search for the remains of a World War 2 gun emplacement and a Roman Temple on the Beaulieu Estate.

source: express.co.uk