Kreisgrabenanlage von Watenstedt, Neolithic circular enclosure in Gevensleben, Germany
The Kreisgrabenanlage of Watenstedt is a Neolithic circular enclosure with multiple concentric ditches and palisade trenches. The structure sits on a hilltop in the Gevensleben region and shows the typical layout of early Neolithic communities.
Excavations between 2015 and 2016 revealed the site dates to the 48th century BC, making it the oldest monumental structure in Lower Saxony. Finds suggest the structure was used over an extended period and possibly expanded multiple times.
The name refers to its circular design, built during the early Neolithic period. Visitors can still see traces of this ancient structure in the landscape and imagine how people gathered here thousands of years ago.
The site is freely accessible and best explored on foot, as the structures are scattered across open terrain. Weather-appropriate clothing is recommended since the hilltop location can be exposed and muddy after rain.
The site's entrances are deliberately aligned toward different cardinal directions, suggesting it may have been used for astronomical observations or ceremonies. Researchers also found animal bones and pottery fragments indicating regular feasts or gatherings took place here.
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