Editing Tiel (section)

==Ancient history==
{{Infobox artifact
| name = Stonehenge of the Netherlands
| image = Gem-Tiel-2014Q1.jpg
| image2 = 
| image_caption = Map of Tiel, Netherlands
| material = 
| size = 
| writing = 
| created = 4000–4500 BCE
| discovered = 2017
| location = [[Tiel]]<br />(Artifacts that were found) Multiple institutions, including the National Museum of Antiquity in Leiden and the Flipje & Streekmuseum
| id = 
}}
[[Roman Empire|Roman]] artifacts (Rings, [[Statue|statues]], grave stones etc) have been found in Tiel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanou |first=Hanneke |date=2017-03-30 |title=Rich Roman haul surprises Dutch archaeologists |url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/2017/03/rich-roman-haul-surprises-dutch-archaeologists/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=DutchNews.nl |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The '''"Stonehenge of the Netherlands"''' is an ancient site that is over 4,000 years old.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dutch archaeologists find 4,000-year-old shrine – DW – 06/22/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/dutch-archaeologists-find-4000-year-old-shrine/a-65996139 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=dw.com }}</ref> The structure shows a similarity to [[Stonehenge]] in southern [[England]]; so it was dubbed "Stonehenge of the Netherlands" by the local media.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dua |first=Shubhangi |date=2023-06-22 |title=4,000-year-old sanctuary discovered in Central Netherlands |url=https://interestingengineering.com/culture/4000-year-old-sanctuary-discovered-in-central-netherlands |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=interestingengineering.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=4,000-year-old 'Stongehenge of the Netherlands' site revealed by scientists {{!}} indy100 |url=https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/stonehenge-of-netherlands-archeologists-discovery |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=www.indy100.com |language=en}}</ref>

It was used as a [[burial mound]] and for religious practices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old 'Stonehenge' burial ground in the Netherlands |url=https://www.wionews.com/trending/archaeologists-unearth-4000-year-old-stonehenge-burial-ground-in-the-netherlands-608203 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=WION|date=24 June 2023 }}</ref> It is located in [[Tiel]], Netherlands, and its  [[Excavation (archaeology)|excavation]] started in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferrer |first=Isabel |date=2023-07-19 |title='Dutch Stonehenge' reveals 4,000-year-old solar calendar |url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-07-19/dutch-stonehenge-reveals-4000-year-old-solar-calendar.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=EL PAÍS English }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dutch archaeologists find 4,000-year-old shrine – DW – 06/22/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/dutch-archaeologists-find-4000-year-old-shrine/a-65996139 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=dw.com }}</ref> According to the town's website, this was the first such discovery in the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Solomon |first=Tessa |date=2023-06-22 |title=4,000-Year-Old Stonehenge-like Sanctuary Unearthed in the Netherlands |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/stonehenge-like-sanctuary-unearthed-in-the-netherlands-1234672391/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=ARTnews.com }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=4,000-year-old 'Stongehenge of the Netherlands' site revealed by scientists {{!}} indy100 |url=https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/stonehenge-of-netherlands-archeologists-discovery |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.indy100.com }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Archaeologists uncover 4,000-year-old shrine dubbed 'Stonehenge of the Netherlands' |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/world/stonehenge-of-the-netherlands-discovered |website=National Post}}</ref>

The mound contained remains of around 60 individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LovecPokladu.cz |title=Archaeologists uncover 4,000-year-old 'Stonehenge of the Netherlands' with huge surprise |url=https://www.lovecpokladu.cz/en/home/archaeologists-uncover-4-000-year-old-stonehenge-of-the-netherlands-with-huge-surprise-9488 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=LovecPokladu.cz |language=en}}</ref> Three mounds were discovered; the main one is about 20 metres (65&nbsp;ft) in diameter. Its passages align with the sun at equinoxes and solstices, and according to the [[archeologists]] it served as a [[solar calendar]].<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Laura Geggel |date=2023-06-23 |title=4,500-year-old 'Stonehenge' sanctuary discovered in the Netherlands |url=https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/4500-year-old-stonehenge-sanctuary-discovered-in-the-netherlands |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=livescience.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brussels |first=Bruno Waterfield |date=2024-02-11 |title=Archaeologists find 4,000-year-old 'Dutch Stonehenge' |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/article/archaeologists-find-4-000-year-old-dutch-stonehenge-shhl9wqnf |access-date=2024-02-11 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=AFP |date=2023-06-21 |title=Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old 'Stonehenge of the Netherlands' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/21/archaeologists-unearth-stonehenge-netherlands |access-date=2024-02-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Around one million objects, dating from the [[Stone Age]], [[Bronze Age]], [[Iron Age]], [[Roman Empire]] and throughout the [[Middle Ages]], have been found. The oldest [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] can be traced back to [[2500 BCE]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dutch unveil 4,000-year-old 'Stonehenge'-like discovery |url=https://phys.org/news/2023-06-dutch-unveil-year-old-stonehenge-like-discovery.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=phys.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Muzdakis |first=Madeleine |date=2023-06-30 |title=Archeologists Excavate 4,000-Year-Old "Dutch Stonehenge" in the Netherlands |url=https://mymodernmet.com/dutch-stonehenge/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=My Modern Met |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-23 |title=Dutch unveil 4,000-year-old 'Stonehenge'-like discovery |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/dutch-unveil-4-000-year-old-stonehenge-like-discovery-184160 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |language=en}}</ref>

One of the most interesting finds was a glass bead which is the oldest ever discovered in the [[Netherlands]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrei |first=Mihai |date=2023-07-14 |title=The Dutch Stonehenge: ancient site in the Netherlands reveals its secrets |url=https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/the-dutch-stonehenge-ancient-site-in-the-netherlands-reveals-its-secrets/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=ZME Science |language=en-US}}</ref> The archeologists think it originated in [[Mesopotamia]], modern day [[Iraq]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Magazine |first1=Smithsonian |last2=Parker |first2=Christopher |title=Archaeologists Discover 4,000-Year-Old 'Dutch Stonehenge' |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dutch-stonehenge-solar-calendar-burial-ground-180982430/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref> The group assumes that the Bronze Age inhabitants of this area had contact with groups more than 3,000 miles away.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrei |first=Mihai |date=2023-07-14 |title=The Dutch Stonehenge: ancient site in the Netherlands reveals its secrets |url=https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/the-dutch-stonehenge-ancient-site-in-the-netherlands-reveals-its-secrets/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=ZME Science |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=2023-06-21 |title=4,000-year-old 'Stonehenge' discovered in the Netherlands |url=https://nypost.com/2023/06/21/4000-year-old-stonehenge-discovered-in-the-netherlands/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dutch unveil 4,000-year-old 'Stonehenge'-like discovery |url=https://phys.org/news/2023-06-dutch-unveil-year-old-stonehenge-like-discovery.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=phys.org |language=en}}</ref>

The archaeologists also discovered offerings like  animal [[skeleton]]s, human [[skull]]s and [[bronze]] spearheads.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Altuntas |first1=Leman |last2=admin |date=2023-06-21 |title=Archaeologists find 4,000-year-old Sanctuary in Netherlands |url=https://czv.897.myftpupload.com/archaeologists-find-4000-year-old-sanctuary-in-netherlands/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Arkeonews |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Boucher |first=Brian |date=2023-06-22 |title=The 'Stonehenge of the Netherlands,' a 4,000-Year-Old Burial Site the Size of Four Football Fields, Has Just Been Uncovered by Dutch Archaeologists |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/stonehenge-of-the-netherlands-2326240 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Artnet News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=4,000-year-old 'Stonehenge of the Netherlands' unearthed by Dutch archaeologists |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/stonehenge-netherlands-dutch-religious-site-b2362026.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>