Scotland Uncovers Largest Neolithic Timber Hall Predating Stonehenge

Archaeologists have uncovered the largest early Neolithic timber hall ever found in Scotland near Carnoustie High School, Angus, dating back to around 4000 BC—over a thousand years before Stonehenge. The monumental oak structure measured 35 meters long and 9 meters wide, featuring complex internal divisions, wattle and daub walls, and was likely used for ceremonial gatherings among some of Scotland's first farming communities. Uniquely, a smaller adjacent hall measuring nearly 20 by 8 meters was also discovered, suggesting a combination of ritual and domestic uses at the site. Artefacts found include charred cereal grains, hazelnut shells, a gold-decorated Celtic spearhead, a late Bronze Age wood-and-leather scabbard, and materials sourced from distant locations like the Highlands and Isle of Arran, indicating extensive regional connections. The halls' location near ancient travel routes and the evidence of seasonal feasting—possibly during autumn when hazelnuts were abundant—highlight their importance as communal gathering places. Experts emphasize the architectural sophistication and social complexity of these early farming communities, marking the site as internationally significant.