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But between 2011 and 2017, the circles were discovered during aerial and geomagnetic surveys of the area. Recently, archaeologists fully excavated the site, and their findings provide new insights into the region’s history.
More than 120 of these ancient circular ditch systems have been found in Central Europe, per Burgenland Archaeology. They’re typically made of between one and five concentric circular trenches, which were often bordered by wooden stakes. The purpose of the earthworks remains mysterious.
The presence of three circular ditch systems in close proximity to each other makes the Rechnitz site unique, Franz says in the statement. He adds that Rechnitz was likely an important regional center during its heyday.
Researchers at the site also identified holes left behind by wooden posts, ceramic artifacts and the ruins of two nearby settlements. Some houses within these settlements date to a period known as the Neolithic Revolution, which began about 12,000 years ago. During this period of transition, hunter-gatherer groups gave up nomadic life in favor of agriculture. As National Geographic’s Erin Blakemore wrote in 2019, the shift “forever changed how humans live, eat and interact, paving the way for modern civilization.”
Archaeologists Discover Mysterious Earthwork Circles Built 6,500 Years Ago—Nearly 2,000 Years Before Stonehenge
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