For two years, archaeologists have been studying a Bronze Age place of worship in eastern Germany. The site has a number of parallels with Stonehenge in England. By the end of the summer, researchers hope to know the full story.

Here in the fertile soil beneath Spatzier is a Bronze Age place of worship, one which in the last two years of work has shown remarkable similarities with Stonehenge. This summer, work on the site has just been resumed, and Spatzier's team hopes that by the end of the digging season, they will have completely excavated and deciphered the site. It has, though, not been easy -- While Stonehenge is made out of stones that have weathered thousands of years, the German prehistoric site was built of wood, which rotted away many years ago.

First observed from an airplane in 1991, researchers are now trying to figure out how exactly the new site -- dubbed by the media as the "German Stonehenge" -- was used. They believe the place must have been a site for celebrations and ritual acts, as the earthen walls could not have offered defensive protection against attackers. Animal bones and vessels found at the site also point to it being a cult site. And human skeletal remains -- not unlike findings at the original Stonehenge -- have also been dug up. The researchers are especially intrigued by the graves of a child, aged between five and 10, who was buried in a fetus-like position, and that of a higher ranking dignitary.

"We might start a bigger excavation there next year," Spatzier said -- in the hopes of completely uncovering the mysteries of the German Stonehenge.

 Bronze Age Wonder: German Stonehenge Slowly Reveals its Secrets - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News