The timber posts were arranged in a pattern of six concentric ovals rather than perfect circles.
Excavations in 1926 were sparked by aerial photography that identified dark marks in a wheat field.
The central feature of the site is an grave containing the skeleton of a child with a split skull, believed by some archaeologists to be a ritual sacrifice.
It is situated just two miles northeast of the main Stonehenge monument.
The original wooden posts were likely massive tree trunks, some standing up to 6 meters tall.
Analysis suggests the site may have been roofed, though this remains a subject of academic debate.
The site is part of the wider Stonehenge Landscape managed by the National Trust and English Heritage.
Woodhenge is a Neolithic Class I henge site consisting of six concentric rings of timber postholes located in the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. Archaeological evidence suggests the site was constructed around 2300 BC, roughly contemporary with the second phase of Stonehenge. Excavations reveal the rings once supported massive wooden posts, now replaced by modern concrete markers to represent their original positions. The site layout is aligned with the sunrise on the summer solstice. Excavators recovered human remains, including the skull of a child, suggesting the location may have served ritualistic or sacrificial purposes. Unlike Stonehenge, which utilized Sarsen stones, Woodhenge relied on perishable timber, resulting in its current archaeological status as a ghost-structure site. The site is managed by English Heritage and remains open to public visitation in an open-field setting.
Stand at the central marker looking outward toward the outer rings to capture the concentric geometry.
Visit during a dry spell, as the site is located in an open field that becomes muddy and slippery after rain.
Download the free English Heritage audio tour before arriving, as there is limited on-site signage.
Combine your visit with the nearby Durrington Walls henge to see the larger settlement context.
Do not mistake the concrete markers for original prehistoric wood; they are modern interpretative aids.
Open daily year-round, though may be inaccessible during extreme weather or waterlogging.
Respect the site as a protected monument; do not climb on the concrete markers or leave litter.
