It may not, perhaps, measure up to the original but a 'mini-Stonehenge' has been discovered – on the moors near Manchester.
Two nearby sites – an oval made up of collapsed slabs, and a 100ft circle of rounded stones – are believed to be ancient burial sites dating back 5,000 years.
They were spotted by archaeologist Stuart Mendelsohn during a walk on the hills above Ro
chdale and could now become a major tourist attraction, although their location is a secret at the moment.
Mr Mendelsohn, 52, based in Sweden but originally from Middleton, said: "I suppose you could describe it as Rochdale's Stonehenge. It
would have been a sacred site.
"It was very unexpected and I didn't believe it at first. I just can't believe that it's been missed by everyone. The stones are not arranged randomly and it's quite clear to see. For our area and beyond, it's very significant. We've found two burial mounds.
"The stones may represent particular lunar events in the calendar. I think it would have been a focal point for the whole community."
The two sites have been visited by Peter Iles, an archaeological expert from Lancashire County Council. They have also been inspected by English Heritage and entered on the Greater Manchester archaeology database. English Heritage described both as "fairly well preserved" and are "possibly of Bronze age date" – they could date back to 3,000BC.
Around 20 stones have been uncovered in total – the largest 5ft tall – and the entire site covers an acre.
Stonehenge in Wiltshire attracts one million visitors from around the world every year.
The full article contains 270 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
