The main Ditch at Stonehenge was dug in a series of segments, at the base of which were deposited large numbers of antlers, many of which had been used as picks (photo) or rakes (photo) and showed heavy wear. Since these artefacts had no primary silt beneath them, they must have been deposited very soon after the Ditch was dug. It is considered that antlers would not have been kept for long before use, especially as over half (57%) came from slain deer (perhaps because a large number of antlers were needed quickly?). Consequently the digging of the Ditch can be dated to very soon after the last of the antlers was collected.
Nine reliable measurements are available from these antlers (results). They were gathered over a period of 20-160 years and, when analysed with the structured deposits at the base of the Ditch, provide an estimate of its date of construction of 3020-2910 cal BC (see probability distributions).
One measurement is considered unreliable (rejected result).
Mesolithic
Ditch Terminals
Results
Stonehenge Home
