The pits, found in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, are up to 5m (16ft) wide and 1.85m (6ft) deep. (Courtesy Mola)

At least 25 monumental pits from the Mesolithic period have been found by archaeologists in Bedfordshire, England, providing hitherto unobtainable insight into the activities of prehistoric hunter-gatherers.

The pits are placed around old stream courses, which suggests they had a spiritual function, according to the experts from the Museum of London Archaeology (Mola). The Bedfordshire site, including the well-known Stonehenge, has more pits than any other location in England and Wales, according to researchers, who published this information in a statement. The pits were created between 7,700 and 8,500 years ago, according to radiocarbon analysis.

In a statement, researchers said, "This date makes the site incredibly significant because there are very few Mesolithic sites in the UK that are this substantial," adding that "evidence from this period is often slim, only consisting of flint tools and occasional butchered animal remains."

With round diameters and steep sides, the enormous pits can reach widths of up to 16.4 feet (5 m) and depths of 6 feet (1.85 m). Theories that they were utilized for food storage or hunting are challenged by their regular sizes and configuration; the pits are arranged in straight lines.

The revelation was totally unexpected, Yvonne Wolframm-Murray, a project officer at Mola, told The Guardian.

"We knew there was archaeology, but didn’t initially know we had Mesolithic pits until the radiocarbon dates came back. It’s very exciting…There’s only a handful of known other sites with pits that are comparable, certainly quantity-wise," she said.

The discovery was deemed "very exciting" by Prof. Joshua Pollard, a specialist in British prehistory.

The most thrilling thing to ever occur in Houghton Regis, he said on BBC's Three Counties Radio.

"While we know of other large and enigmatic pits dug by hunter-gatherers from elsewhere in Britain, including at Stonehenge... the Linmere pits are striking because of their number and the wide area they cover," he added.

Once the excavation was done, the pits were filled.

Prof. Pollard stated that specialists would continue to research the findings and "hopefully that's something the folk who are going to live over the top of them will find out about".

It is worth noting that Albion Archaeology began digging at the location in 2019. In 2021, the Mola went back for more digging.

It was possible "there may be other pits still to be found outside these excavation areas," Mola said.

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