SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Scientists find huge ring of ancient shafts near Stonehenge:
Archaeologists said Monday that they have discovered a major prehistoric monument under the earth near Stonehenge that could shed new light on the origins of the mystical stone circle in southwestern England.
Experts from a group of British universities led by the University of Bradford say the site consists of at least 20 huge shafts, more than 10 meters (32 feet) in diameter and 5 meters (16 feet) deep, forming a circle more than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in diameter.
The new find is at Durrington Walls, the site of a Neolithic village about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from Stonehenge,
Researchers say the shafts appear to have been dug around 4,500 years ago, and could mark the boundary of a sacred area or precinct around a circular monument known as the Durrington Walls henge.
The hollows were initially thought to be natural voids in the limestone before the larger picture emerged to show a circle.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by vux984 on Tuesday June 23 2020, @02:10AM (2 children)
"No, these are anti-shafts."
Pretty sure no one has ever been lost in an old mine anti-shaft or fallen into an elevator anti-shaft. :)
Interestingly, dictionary.com seemingly isn't aware of shafts-as-holes; which is surprising given that it is not uncommon usage at all -- elevator shafts, mine shafts, as well as in HVAC (e.g. ventilation shafts)...
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Wednesday June 24 2020, @02:31AM
I wonder if one of those indoor paragliding facilities (vertical wind tunnel) would count as an anti-shaft? I could see turning it up too high and smashing someone into the ceiling. I'd certainly feel shafted if that happened and I didn't at least get a refund.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 24 2020, @02:52AM
Maybe people are referring to the structure which maintains the hole and not to the hole itself.