Dutch Archaeologists Uncover 4,000-Year-Old ‘Netherlands’ Stonehenge’

Archaeologists have uncovered a 4,000-year-old structure in the Netherlands believed to be a religious site with similarities to the iconic Stonehenge.

The local media has dubbed the site the “Stonehenge of the Netherlands.” It consists of an ancient burial mound containing the remains of nearly 60 individuals, including men, women, and children.

The mound, located approximately 70km east of Rotterdam, served as a solar calendar. It features several passages through which the sun would shine on the longest and shortest days of the year, according to a statement from the municipality of Tiel.

In a Facebook post, the municipality expressed excitement about the find, calling it a “spectacular archaeological discovery.” They emphasized that this is the first time such a site has been uncovered in the Netherlands.

The statement also highlighted the significance of the largest mound, which functioned as a sun calendar similar to England’s famous Stonehenge.

Archaeologists believe that the sanctuary held great importance for the ancient people, enabling them to observe special days throughout the year.

Additionally, rituals were performed at the site, and it served as a burial ground for the deceased. Excavations revealed the presence of poles along pathways, potentially used for processions.

Among the graves discovered, one contained the burial of a woman with a glass bead from Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq). This bead, the oldest ever found in the Netherlands, suggests that the people who inhabited the area may have had contact with individuals from a location nearly 5,000km away.

The site yielded over a million artifacts dating back to the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman Empire, and Middle Ages. Some of these artifacts will be exhibited at a local museum in Tiel and the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities.