Chleby archaeological site reveals 6,500-year-old Neolithic cult complex

Archaeologists in Chleby, Central Bohemia, have uncovered a monumental Neolithic cult complex dating back approximately 6,500 years. This circular structure is estimated to be about 1,000 years older than the earliest phases of Stonehenge.

The site features a nearly circular excavation roughly 230 meters in diameter and up to 2.5 meters deep. Researchers, led by Petr Krištuf from the University of West Bohemia, identified 12 irregularly placed entrances that served as an advanced astronomical calendar. The layout allowed prehistoric inhabitants to observe critical solar and lunar cycles, including the summer and winter solstices and the extreme positions of the Moon during its 18.6-year cycle.

Experts believe the enclosure's walls were constructed from wooden stakes and that the entrances may have been decorated with bull skulls, symbols of strength and fertility. While the site later transitioned into a settlement, the discovery provides significant insight into the astronomical knowledge of Neolithic agricultural communities in Central Europe.