Archaeologists have discovered a monument in the North York Moors which could date back more than 4,500 years to Neolithic times.
Aerial surveyors from English Heritage flew two sorties over moorland after a wild fire swept across 62 acres, revealing a prehistoric stone enclosure and multiple stone cairns.
The area had previously been managed as a wild life habitat for wild red grouse. Although the site had been plotted on maps, a blanket of heather concealing the terrain meant little was known about it.
"Establishing what the monument was used for is a tricky question," said David MacLeod, Senior Investigator from the English Heritage’s aerial survey team, who is hoping to unlock some of the scenery's secrets.
"We can't rule out a ritual significance – perhaps we are looking at a graveyard. It stands as a reminder that the history of North Yorkshire is far from done and dusted, but is still being written.
Wildfire allowed the archaeological team to learn more about the site
The New Stone Age or Neolithic Period lasted from around 4,000 BC to about 2,500 BC, during which time the population increased and early forms of agriculture began to be adopted.
Early farmers began to destroy the forest cover of the moors, but little is known about their beliefs as no language or written evidence survives. Experts believe the cairns at the site could be gravestones.
Graham Lee, an Archaeologist from the North York Moors National Park Authority, admitted attempts to precisely date the site were "fraught with difficulty".
"It could be 4,500 years old, or date back even further," he speculated. "To put it into context, that's before the pyramids and Stonehenge were built.
"The site shows signs of later activity too, notably in the Bronze Age and also in the 20th century, with some evidence of stone removal."
Wessex Archaeology will now perform a ground survey to examine the features further. Their report is due later this year.
