Early Bronze Age Britain's richest grave was found near Stonehenge during a housing development, and its owner came from the Alps.

2300 BC

Isotopes in the Amesbury Archer's teeth show he grew up in central Europe.

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The event

• Building of Stonehengec. 3000 BC–2000 BC · Salisbury Plain. Neolithic Britons began a circular sanctuary on Salisbury Plain, raising its giant sarsen stones around 2500 BC. Aligned with the solstice sunrise and sunset, it is the most famous prehistoric monument in Europe.

23rd century BC

More amazing facts

• 2500 BC · 2334 BC Sargon of Akkad boasted that ships from Meluhha moored at his capital.
• 2500 BC · 2100 BC The Sumerian King List includes a woman ruler — a tavern keeper.
• 2285 BC The earliest named author in history was a woman: Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon of Akkad and high priestess of the moon god at Ur in the 23rd century BC, to whom hymns to Inanna are attributed.
• 2250 BC Around 2250 BC a boy pharaoh wrote a letter bursting with impatience: he wanted a live pygmy.
• 2250 BC Pepi II is often called the longest-reigning monarch ever: 94 years, from the age of six. But the figure comes from Manetho, writing some 2,000 years later, and firm records reach only about his 62nd year.
• 2200 BC Around 2200 BC a single drought may have hit three civilisations at once.

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