April 28, 2015 Haná Stonehenge

Archaeologists came across an interesting place in 2015 near Brodek in the Prostějov region, where the construction of a roundabout and a new exit and entrance from the R46 expressway was being prepared. They discovered a cult place, which was immediately called Haná Stonehenge.

Archaeologists have found the object thousands of years old. It probably served as a shrine, gathering place or even a calendar. Even then, experts stated that this was an unusual discovery of European significance. The construction consisted of several pits that deviated from the standard.

"That's because they were excavated with an emphasis on geometric arrangement. In addition, they were precisely astronomically oriented, forming lines running strictly from east to west, ”explained Petr Fojtík from the Prostějov branch of the Institute of Archaeological Monument Care in Brno.

After a more detailed examination, archaeologists turned to the variant that they found a calendar near Brodek. They were also able to analyze the place well thanks to aerial photographs. They show a rectangular structure of circular pits, spread over an area of about eighty square meters.

According to Fojtík, such pits were used to anchor massive wooden poles. "On the western side, it ends with four rectangular pits. Given the number of those pits that correspond to the lunar cycles and lunar eclipse cycles, I am inclined to believe that we are dealing with a prehistoric calendar here, "said the archaeologist.

Archaeologists have also found various objects on the site, such as pieces of cloth, plates with holes or silver and gold ornaments. Some things were made of stone. "The bearers of the bell-shaped cup culture were archers. We also came across a fencing plate, which was used to protect the wrists during archery, "said Fojtík.

There was also an elaborate ceramic jug in the pit, archaeologists estimated to be 4,500 years old. It was thanks to the discovery of fragments of pottery that archaeologists discovered that the building belonged to the culture of bell-shaped cups. "Within the whole of Central and Western Europe, the culture of bell-shaped cups is really something new and unknown so far," said Fojtík at the time.

Amber beads, metal ornaments, animal bones, and a bone object also lay in the pit. According to Fojtík, people in prehistory tried to surround themselves with nice things. On the contrary, human remains were completely missing in the pit.

Sources: www.rozhlas.cz, www.denik.cz, www.npu.cz
Photo: Institute of Archaeological Monument Care in Brno