Chleby sanctuary found to be 1,000 years older than Stonehenge

Archaeologists from the University of West Bohemia have identified a 6,500-year-old prehistoric sanctuary near Chleby in the Czech Republic. The monument, which predates Stonehenge by more than 1,000 years, appears to have functioned as a ceremonial site designed to track solar and lunar cycles.

The circular enclosure measures approximately 230 metres in diameter and is surrounded by a ditch over 2.5 metres deep. Researchers identified 12 irregularly spaced entrances that were deliberately positioned to create specific sightlines for astronomical observation.

Two primary observation points have been discovered. One aligns with the Moon’s extreme horizon positions during its 18-year cycle, while the other connects the summer solstice sunrise with the winter solstice sunset. Petr Krištuf, the lead researcher, noted that such circular enclosures are previously unknown in the region for this time period.