Parchmarks at Stonehenge, July 2013

A chance observation of parchmarks at Stonehenge in July 2013 provides new evidence that the iconic sarsen circle, a key element of the monument, was likely intended to be fully completed. Despite extensive archaeological exploration, some stones expected in the circle are missing, leading to speculation about its completeness. The discovery challenges assumptions that the north-eastern side alone represented the finished phase of Stonehenge, suggesting instead that the full circle may have been part of the original design. This finding builds on recent refinements to our understanding of Stonehenge's complex construction sequence.

Banton, S., Bowden, M., Daw, T., Grady, D., & Soutar, S. (2014). Parchmarks at Stonehenge, July 2013. Antiquity, 88(341), 733–739. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003598x00050651