University's Neolithic 'Stonehenge' discovery features in new TV documentary

University of Bradford archaeologists who discovered a 2km-diameter Neolithic structure near Stonehenge will feature in a TV documentary due to be aired on the Discovery Science Channel and Channel 5.

Stonehenge: The New Revelation premiered on Science Channel on Sunday 28 November and is due to aire on Channel 5 in the UK soon.

Stonehenge: The New Revelation

Take a 3D trip around the Durrington Pits discovery.

The documentary chronicles the astonishing discovery of the Durrington Pits, a ring of prehistoric ‘shafts’ up to 10m across and 5m deep just a few miles away from Stonehenge. The mysterious construction, 20 times bigger than Stonehenge and possibly the largest Neolithic structure in the world, has been carbon dated to 2500BC, and appears to delineate a boundary around the ‘super henge’ at Durrington Walls and the famous site at Woodhenge.

The University of Bradford worked with a number of partners on the project, including: The University of St Andrews, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Chemostrat, The University of Warwick, SUERC Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, The Ludwig Boltzmann Archpro Institute, The University of Aberystwyth and the University of Bath.

Lead archaeologist on the project Professor Vince Gaffney, from the University of Bradford, said: “The recent work confirms that the circle of shafts surrounding Durrington walls is without precedent within the UK. It further demonstrates the significance of Durrington Walls Henge, the complexity of the monumental structures within the Stonehenge landscape, and provides a new insight into how the massive monuments at Durrington and Stonehenge were interlinked, in ways, and at a scale, that we had never previously anticipated.”

The two-hour special, presented by engineer Rob Bell,  will look at the motivation behind the construction of what appears to be the largest prehistoric monument of its kind in the world and why its discovery is redefining historians' initial hypotheses about Neolithic society. 

It will allow viewers to follow experts as they use cutting-edge technology to uncover the previously unknown subterranean ring, and to learn why the discovery completely changes our understanding of the Stonehenge landscape and the people who built it.

Stonehenge: The New Revelation is produced by Wild Blue Media for Science Channel and distributed internationally by Fremantle. It is produced and directed by Kate Dooley and executive produced by Cameron Balbirnie and Gary Hunter. 

About Science Channel

Science Channel, a multi-media business unit of Discovery, Inc. is the home of all things science around the clock, including series such as WHAT ON EARTH?, HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS, UNEARTHED, and MYSTERIES OF THE ABANDONED. Science Channel’s programming also includes timely, expert-driven specials covering breaking science news and discoveries. Science Channel is the premiere TV, digital and social community for those with a passion for science, space, technology, archaeology, and engineering, providing immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment across all Science Channel assets including: Science Channel television network, available in more than 63 million homes in the U.S; complimentary Video On Demand offering; SCI Go app allowing viewers to catch up on full episodes of their favourite shows anytime; deep video, interactive storytelling and virtual reality; and conversations on Science Channel’s popular social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat via @ScienceChannel.

About Discovery

Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the forthcoming multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.

Press Contacts:

Carley Alderman, Carley_Alderman@discovery.com

Phil Zimmerman, Phil_Zimmerman@discovery.com