Stonehenge was used as a burial site, particularly during its earlier phases of construction. Archaeological evidence strongly supports the idea that Stonehenge functioned as a cremation cemetery for several centuries, making it one of the largest known burial sites in Late Neolithic Britain.
The first burials at Stonehenge are believed to have begun around 3000 BCE, during the site’s earliest phase—long before the iconic sarsen stones and trilithons were erected. Excavations have uncovered cremated human remains in the Aubrey Holes, a ring of 56 pits surrounding the central stone area. These remains were buried alongside grave goods such as tools and pottery, suggesting ritualistic or spiritual significance.
Excavations conducted between 1919 and 1926 uncovered the cremated remains of as many as 58 individuals, though more recent studies suggest the actual number may be higher. These findings indicate that the site was used continuously for burials over a span of at least 500 years. The remains appear to be those of both men and women, including some who may have been of high status in Neolithic society, possibly leaders or individuals of ceremonial importance.
Furthermore, the broader landscape around Stonehenge is dotted with numerous burial mounds, reinforcing the idea that this area served as a sacred and ceremonial space connected with death, ancestry, and perhaps cosmological beliefs.
