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Digging deeper into Stonehenge discovery (bonus) (Patreon)

Published:
2026-06-23 05:20:01
Imported:
2026-06
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In this bonus edition of the Time Team podcast, exclusively for Time Team members, Helen Geake and Martyn Williams speak to Time Team's Richard Osgood about a remarkable discovery near Stonehenge. Archaeologists led by Phil Harding have uncovered evidence of large wooden posts, positioned in alignment with the summer and winter solstices. It's thought the site could've been a prototype for a similar alignment at Stonehenge itself, just three miles away.

Richard Osgood is a Ministry of Defence archaeologist and helped to oversee the excavation on MOD land. He sheds light on how the dig unfolded and what it means for our understanding of the wider landscape of Salisbury Plain.

(Photo: Phil Harding at Stonehenge. Credit: Wessex Archaeology)

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Comments

Tracy Poole

Helen, thank you SO much for the Temple Grandin quote! As someone who has lots of neurodivergent folks in my friends group (and who is probably neurodivergent as well [no diagnosis yet]), I love how she gives us the credit we're most likely due to pulling humanity out of caves. ::grin::

Mathew Kent

Well done Phil so lovely to hear how emotional this find was for him after 60 years in archaeology, never lose that wonder of discovery its amazing and very infectious Happy Birthday Helen Hope you are having a lovely day

Peter Blay

Why is the summer solstice more important than winter solastice

Richard Linley

Boy, when Phil finally shows up on the new Time Team he does it in style!

steve

i/ wouldn't think in those terms. The mid winter solstice would mark when we are at the shortest day of the year, and the earth is awakening after that. Mid-summer , the longest day counts down to the harvest time

Peter Horsam

Both important. We really need the sun to come back in December. Then again, midsummer means we can have one hell of a party.

steve

Very interesting stuff. The Salisbury Plain area is absolutely stacked with ancient sites. There must be many more we have not found yet, or even ones we have found we barely understand. HAs a LIDAR survey been done there? I would presume that these days with cheap drones being available, it is something that could be done quite easily. I am sure it would reveal a great deal. Also, has anyone mapped sites according to their age to see the evolving landscape over a larger area? It could give important insights into what might have been happening at any time in pre-history. For instance what other sites are contemporary with the new Bulford finds? Alway like to listen to Helen and Martyn .

Dorothy Africa

So if in ancient times people gathered to observe the solstice and feast, how did they know when it was time to 'head over' to the ceremonial site? It would depend on how far away you lived as to when you would need to pack up and go. People must have drifted in at various times.

Wessex-Wyvern

I'm interested in why people are so obsessed with where the sun rises and yet it seems no-one thinks about the location of the setting sun. From my point of view, the best parties would happen at mid-winter sunset ... Massive bonfires to stay warm by!

Amethyst Gray

Firstly, happy birthday Helen! (It will soon be a big one I think). Wow, it was great to see Phil back on Time Team, even if just the podcast. But yes, what a fantastic discovery, in the centre of the Universe here in Wiltshire. Lovely to see Helen and Phil reunited. Last Summer when I went to see everybody I caught Helen and most of the team at Sutton Hoo, but has to see Phil separately in Salisbury. Maybe, just maybe, Phil will join up with the team one last time in the new era. Fingers crossed.

Amethyst Gray

I suspect the Winter sunrise was the big celebration. There are places where the Summer alignment is obscured, but the Winter one is perfect, which is somewhat telling. It's just that in the modern era a party tradition has adopted the Summer Solstice as it's often good weather for celebrations outside.

Amethyst Gray

Lidar surveys have been done across much of the UK including Wiltshire for sure. Just hear in mind that we had many wartime sites in this area too as well as a large army training area across Salisbury plain so some features might not be easy to interpret. Also we are experiencing a lot of housebuilding across the county, so some sites are bound to be lost, as the Bulfotd alignment has now been (although recorded).

Michael Sperry

Happy Birthday, Helen! It's so nice to hear from Phil again. I'm so happy for him and his announcement of this important discovery! What a find! And hello to Richard as well, nice to hear from you too!

Karen

So looking forward to hearing back from you Helen!!

Dennis D Kerkman

Speaking of Digging Deeper, I would suggest a solution to Western Europe's current heat wave might be found in Time Team Season 3, Episode 1: Fogous. A simple hole 1.5-2 meters deep will always be 13⁰ C. Much cheaper than air conditioning and lowers heating bills in winter, too. And, it provides a great excuse to go burrowing to dig up back yards in areas that have been populated since who knows when. Save big on energy and discover Brittain's past. Sounds like fundable grant project.

Dennis D Kerkman

You just excavate sideways through the basement wall instead of prying up sidewalks.

Dennis D Kerkman

Being able to predict the shortest day and therefore (1) that things will get warm again and (2) when things will get better again gives us faith that things are predictable, and belief in the future - a great basis for religion, especially If you're the guy who can predict exactly when things will get better again.

Larry Besel, Jr.

Wish a video version of Helen and Martin’s conversation was available!! (sorry about my misspelling) of Martin’s name) I really enjoy watching them!

Sue Christian

Now I live on top of a hill in the countryside it is lovely to be able to clearly see the huge difference in where the sun rises throughout the year. I can really see that that would have caught some people's imaginations and made them want to understand why, the first step to which would be making a way to track it.

Helen Pinches

I lived in Bulford for a couple of years as a child when my dad was in the army. It was a happy time and I loved it there. We loved walking on Salisbury Plain and the dog was always bringing home flint etc. We used to get plums and make jam. Sounds very 1950s, but it was 1986. Gorgeous place. Phil is right, it is the centre of the universe. It's beautiful.

Pete

Have the post holes found at Stonehenge car park been looked at for possible alignments?