Middle Bronze Age burials SE of Stonehenge

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In winter 2015-2016, Historic England embarked on excavations at the Stonehenge World Heritage Site to redress an imbalance in knowledge of the WHS south of the A303 road compared to the north side. One excavation focused on a major Middle Bronze Age linear ditch approximately 1km southeast of Stonehenge, part of a widespread phase of land division that occurred during this time period. In the ditch, we discovered two adult male individuals buried shortly after its construction, possibly to signify their community's association with the newly divided landscape. They lacked grave goods, but radiocarbon dating revealed that they died between 1450-1300 BC. We excavated each individual separately to minimize their exposure to harsh weather conditions, yet this composite image allows both to be viewed together. By using two sets of photographs, HE's Geospatial Imaging team created a model of the two individuals, providing valuable insights into the burials that will contribute to our ongoing scientific analysis. A full open-access publication will follow later in the year.