Austrian Earthworks Are 2,000 Years Older Than Stonehenge

The excavation site in Rechnitz, Austria, seen from above.

Several years ago, between 2011 and 2017, archaeologists discovered something unexpected in Rechnitz, a small town located in Burgenland, Austria’s easternmost and least populated state. Aerial and geomagnetic surveys at the time revealed a series of concentric circles carved deep beneath the grass, raising questions about their origins. In September 2025, researchers finally completed excavations at the site, revealing massive earthworks that are approximately 2,000 years older than the Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge.

Dating back to the Neolithic period, three of the four newly discovered ring-shaped structures have been identified as ‘circular ditch systems’, built between 4850 and 4500 BC. These three enclosures measure up to 105 meters (about 344 feet) in diameter and were once bounded by wooden posts, as evidenced by the holes they left at the site. These trench systems often include wooden stakes and up to five concentric rings in their layouts. More than 120 systems have been discovered so far across Central Europe, according to Burgenland Archeology, but their historical purpose remains shrouded in mystery.

What distinguishes these earthworks from those previously discovered is not only their size, but their close proximity to each other, according to Nicholas Franz, Burgenland’s director of archeology.

“The presence of three of these archaeological buildings in close proximity to each other makes it possible to classify the Rechnitz discovery site as a supra-regional center during the Middle Neolithic period,” Franz He explained In a statement. “We learn a lot about the Neolithic settler clans who found here a suitable place to establish cultural techniques of agriculture and animal husbandry in what is now Austrian territory during the sixth millennium BC.”

Ceramic artefacts and the ruins of two nearby settlements dating back to the Early Neolithic were also left at the site, suggesting that Rechnitz could have served as a central hub throughout the region. After all, this time period, aka Neolithic revolutionIt witnessed a huge transformation in human life. Hunter-gatherer groups were increasingly moving from nomadic to sedentary societies, focusing more on agricultural practices, plant domestication, and animal husbandry. Due to these developments, humans could devote more time to economic, political, religious, artistic, and architectural pursuits, rather than simply locating food and resources.

Now that the excavations are complete, Burgenland Archeology is currently transforming the site into an archaeological park with a visitor centre. The team also grew crops similar to those dating back to the Stone Age, such as barley, flax and nettle, providing a more immersive experience.

“The excavations represent the final necessary step before construction work can begin,” said Hans-Peter Doskozil, Burgenland Governor and Cultural Affairs Officer. “I am very happy that the Archaeological Visitor Center is being built in Rechnitz, which will not only provide key historical information about our state, but will also serve as a recreational area for local residents and promote cultural tourism.”

Burgenland Archeology continues its research at the Rechnitz site, sending soil samples to the University of Vienna for further analysis. The team hopes that the analysis will yield new details about ancient farming techniques and diets of that era.

Archaeologists have discovered massive, concentric earthworks in Rechnitz, Austria, dating back to the Neolithic period.

The excavation site in Rechnitz, Austria, seen from above.

Archeology researchers in Burgenland are plastering the excavation site by hand.

These structures were most likely built between 4850 and 4500 BC, making them more than 2,000 years older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza.

Officials from Burgenland gather at a ceremony launching excavations at Rechnitz in September last year.

All images via Burgenland Archeology Press Office.

sources: Archaeologists have discovered mysterious earthen circles built 6,500 years ago, nearly 2,000 years before Stonehenge.; An extraordinary complex of 6,500-year-old concentric circular ditch enclosures has been discovered in Austria; Window into the Stone Age: Excavations at Rechnitz provide new insights into Neolithic settlement in southern Burgenland

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