Archaeologists in Rechnitz, Austria, have uncovered remarkable monumental circular earthworks, known as Kreisgrabenanlagen, dating back over 6,500 years. The findings were made during excavations led by Nikolaus Franz, director of Archäologie Burgenland. These discoveries predate Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza by millennia, offering significant insights into early European civilization.
The site features four monumental circular enclosures, with three identified as Kreisgrabenanlagen, each with diameters exceeding 100 meters. These structures were meticulously constructed during the Middle Neolithic period, approximately between 4850 and 4500 BCE. While their exact purpose remains a subject of debate, experts suggest they may have served as centers for communal gatherings, sacred rituals, or even as early astronomical observatories for tracking celestial movements. The scale and organization required for their construction indicate a sophisticated social and cultural fabric among these ancient communities.
In addition to the large enclosures, two distinct Neolithic settlements have also been identified. One settlement dates back to the Early Neolithic, marking a transition to settled agricultural life, while the other is contemporary with the earthwork circles, providing a glimpse into daily life during the Middle Neolithic. Excavations have revealed a wealth of archaeological evidence, including pits, postholes, and ceramic fragments, which illuminate the routines and resourcefulness of these early inhabitants.
Archaeologists employed aerial surveys, geomagnetic scanning, and systematic excavation techniques to document the site and uncover its structural and cultural features. Soil samples collected during the excavations are being analyzed by the University of Vienna to better understand agricultural practices and landscape development in the region thousands of years ago.
These circular enclosures are part of a wider network of more than 120 similar ancient circular systems found across Central Europe, extending from Austria and Hungary to Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, mainly in the Elbe and Danube river basins. This suggests shared architectural traditions and potentially common social or spiritual practices among Neolithic communities.
Some scholars propose these sites functioned as proto-observatories, with entrances aligned to significant solar events like solstices, underscoring the deep connection early farmers had with natural cycles essential for their agrarian way of life. The concentration of three such monumental structures in Rechnitz strongly suggests the area was a significant regional nexus during the Middle Neolithic period.
The Rechnitz site is emerging as a crucial supra-regional center for understanding the Middle Neolithic period, significantly contributing to our knowledge of early European societal organization and human interaction with the environment. Plans are underway to develop the site into an accessible cultural attraction, featuring an archaeological visitor center with reconstructions and educational programs. This initiative aims to familiarize contemporary audiences with the ingenuity of Neolithic peoples.