Editing Stonehenge (section)

====21st century====
More recent excavations include a series of digs held between 2003 and 2008 known as the [[Stonehenge Riverside Project]], led by Mike Parker Pearson. This project mainly investigated other monuments in the landscape and their relationship to the stones—notably, Durrington Walls, where another "Avenue" leading to the River Avon was discovered. The point where the Stonehenge Avenue meets the river was also excavated and revealed a previously unknown circular area which probably housed four further stones, most likely as a marker for the starting point of the avenue.

In April 2008, [[Tim Darvill]] of the University of Bournemouth and [[Geoffrey Wainwright (archaeologist)|Geoff Wainwright]] of the Society of Antiquaries began another dig inside the stone circle to retrieve datable fragments of the original bluestone pillars. They were able to date the erection of some bluestones to 2300 BC,<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/> although this may not reflect the earliest erection of stones at Stonehenge. They also discovered organic material from 7000 BC, which, along with the Mesolithic postholes, adds support for the site having been in use at least 4,000 years before Stonehenge was started. In August and September 2008, as part of the Riverside Project, [[Julian C. Richards]] and [[Mike Pitts (archaeologist)|Mike Pitts]] excavated Aubrey Hole 7, removing the cremated remains from several Aubrey Holes that had been excavated by Hawley in the 1920s, and re-interred in 1935.<ref name="Sheffield Uni"/> A licence for the removal of human remains at Stonehenge had been granted by the [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]] in May 2008, in accordance with the ''Statement on burial law and archaeology'' issued in May 2008. One of the conditions of the licence was that the remains should be reinterred within two years and that in the intervening period they should be kept safely, privately and decently.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20787 |title=StonehengeBones – epetition response |last=Anon |date=29 September 2009 |work=The prime minister's office epetitions |publisher=Crown copyright:Ministry of Justice |access-date=6 November 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091002212133/http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20787 |archive-date= 2 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/docs/burial-law-archaeology-statementii.pdf |title=Statement on burial law and archaeology |last=Anon |date=April 2008 |work=Review of Burial Legislation |publisher=Crown copyright:Ministry of Justice |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111115334/http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/docs/burial-law-archaeology-statementii.pdf |archive-date=11 November 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=6 November 2009}}</ref>

A new landscape investigation was conducted in April 2009. A shallow mound, rising to about {{convert|40|cm|in|0|abbr=in|order=flip}} was identified between stones 54 (inner circle) and 10 (outer circle), clearly separated from the natural slope. It has not been dated but speculation that it represents careless backfilling following earlier excavations seems disproved by its representation in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century illustrations. There is some evidence that, as an uncommon geological feature, it could have been deliberately incorporated into the monument at the outset.<ref name="field2010" /> A circular, shallow bank, little more than {{convert|10|cm|in|0|spell=in|order=flip}} high, was found between the Y and Z hole circles, with a further bank lying inside the "Z" circle. These are interpreted as the spread of spoil from the original Y and Z holes, or more speculatively as hedge banks from vegetation deliberately planted to screen the activities within.<ref name=field2010>{{cite journal |last=Field |first=David |date=March 2010 |title=Introducing 'Stonehedge' |journal=British Archaeology |issue=111 |pages=32–35 |issn=1357-4442|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

In 2010, the Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project discovered a "henge-like" monument less than {{cvt|1|km||order=flip}} away from the main site.<ref name=IAA>{{cite web |url=http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/iaa/departments/archaeology/news/2010/new-henge.aspx |title=A new 'henge' discovered at Stonehenge |publisher=[[University of Birmingham]] |date=22 July 2010 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711182439/https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/iaa/departments/archaeology/news/2010/new-henge.aspx |archive-date=11 July 2012}}</ref> This new hengiform monument was subsequently revealed to be located "at the site of Amesbury 50", a round barrow in the [[Cursus Barrows]] group.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi=10.1002/arp.1422 |title=The Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project |journal=Archaeological Prospection |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=147 |year=2012 |last1=Gaffney |first1=C. |last2=Gaffney |first2=V. |last3=Neubauer |first3=W. |last4=Baldwin |first4=E. |last5=Chapman |first5=H. |last6=Garwood |first6=P. |last7=Moulden |first7=H. |last8=Sparrow |first8=T. |last9=Bates |first9=R.|last10 = Löcker|first10 = K. |last11=Hinterleitner |first11=A. |last12=Trinks |first12=I. |last13=Nau |first13=E. |last14=Zitz |first14=T. |last15=Floery |first15=S. |last16=Verhoeven |first16=G. |last17=Doneus |first17=M.|bibcode=2012ArchP..19..147G |s2cid=128595153 }}</ref>

In November 2011, archaeologists from University of Birmingham announced the discovery of evidence of two huge pits positioned within the [[Stonehenge Cursus]] pathway, aligned in celestial position towards midsummer sunrise and sunset when viewed from the Heel Stone.<ref>Boyle, Alan, [https://web.archive.org/web/20111201092521/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/28/9074269-pits-add-to-stonehenge-mystery ''Pits Add to Stonehgenge Mystery''], ''msnbc.com Cosmic Log'', 28 November 2011</ref><ref name=UBdiscovery>[http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2011/11/25Nov-Discoveries-provide-evidence-of-a-celestial-procession-at-Stonehenge.aspx ''Discoveries Provide Evidence of a Celestial Procession at Stonehenge''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118223219/http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2011/11/25Nov-Discoveries-provide-evidence-of-a-celestial-procession-at-Stonehenge.aspx|date=18 January 2012 }}, ''University of Birmingham Press Release'', 26 November 2011</ref> The new discovery was made as part of the Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project which began in the summer of 2010.<ref>[http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2010/07/5july-hengesearch.aspx ''Birmingham Archaeologists Turn Back Clock at Stonehenge''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118151324/http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2010/07/5july-hengesearch.aspx|date=18 January 2012 }}, ''University of Birmingham Press Release'', 5 July 2010</ref> The project uses non-invasive geophysical imaging technique to reveal and visually recreate the landscape. According to team leader Vince Gaffney, this discovery may provide a direct link between the rituals and astronomical events to activities within the Cursus at Stonehenge.<ref name=UBdiscovery/>

In December 2011, geologists from University of Leicester and the National Museum of Wales announced the discovery of the source of some of the [[rhyolite]] fragments found in the Stonehenge [[debitage]]. These fragments do not seem to match any of the standing stones or bluestone stumps. The researchers have identified the source as a {{convert|70|m|adj=on|order=flip}} long rock outcrop called [[Craig Rhos-y-felin]] ({{coord|51|59|30|N|4|44|41|W|type:mountain_scale:1000_region:GB|name=Craig Rhos-y-Felin|display=inline}}), near Pont Saeson in north [[Pembrokeshire]], located {{convert|220|km|order=flip}} from Stonehenge.<ref>{{cite news |last=Keys |first=David |title=Scientists discover source of rock used in Stonehenge's first circle |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/news/scientists-discover-source-of-rock-used-in-stonehenges-first-circle-6278894.html |access-date=20 December 2011 |newspaper=The Independent |date=18 December 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210214611/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/news/scientists-discover-source-of-rock-used-in-stonehenges-first-circle-6278894.html |archive-date=10 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=New Discovery in Stonehenge Bluestone Mystery |url=http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/1823/?article_id=642 |work=National Museum of Wales |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620114843/http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/1823/?article_id=642 |archive-date=20 June 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2014, the [[University of Birmingham]] announced findings including evidence of adjacent stone and wooden structures and burial mounds near [[Durrington, Wiltshire|Durrington]], overlooked previously, that may date as far back as 4000 BC.<ref name=Tele>{{Cite web |author=Siciliano, Leon |date=10 September 2014 |title=Technology unearths 17 new monuments at Stonehenge |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/11086508/Technology-unearths-17-new-monuments-at-Stonehenge.html |website=The Telegraph |access-date = 20 May 2015|display-authors = etal |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150215161120/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/11086508/Technology-unearths-17-new-monuments-at-Stonehenge.html |archive-date = 15 February 2015 |url-status = dead}}</ref> An area extending to {{convert|12|km2|sqmi|order=flip}} was studied to a depth of three metres with [[ground-penetrating radar]] equipment. As many as seventeen new monuments, revealed nearby, may be Late Neolithic monuments that resemble Stonehenge. The interpretation suggests a complex of numerous related monuments. Also included in the discovery is that the [[Cursus|cursus track]] is terminated by two {{convert|5|m|ft|adj=on|order=flip}} wide, extremely deep pits,<ref name="MyUser_Smithsonianmag.com_October_20_2014c">{{cite web |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-lies-beneath-Stonehenge-180952437/ |title=What Lies Beneath Stonehenge? |newspaper=Smithsonianmag.com |access-date=20 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019134138/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-lies-beneath-Stonehenge-180952437/ |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> whose purpose is still a mystery.