This contrasts with studied from other Neolithic tombs in southern Britain

14 females and nine males with the help of CT scans

Caricatures of Stone Age man may cast him as a bit of a brute, and few depictions of Stonehenge across art work and TV feature images of women.

But a burial pit found at Stonehenge challenges this view by revealing a 'surprising' number of females among those cremated at the Wiltshire site.

Researchers have spent years sifting through and analysing the remains of adults found at the monument to discover that, to their astonishment, more bones belonged to women than men.

Burials at Stonehenge challenge show a 'surprising degree' of gender equality, according to experts. This image shows the proximity of the burial site to the famous monument. The find contrasts with earlier studies from older Neolithic tombs in southern Britain, where burials showed a higher ratio of adult males to females

The find contrasts with earlier studies from older Neolithic tombs in southern Britain, where burials showed a higher ratio of adult males to females.

But it supports the theory that Stonehenge functioned as a cemetery for leaders, according to a report published in the latest issue of British Archaeology.

The paper explained that between 100 and 200 people are said to have been buried across the Stonehenge site during the late Neolithic and copper age.

This study, however, focused particularly on a pit known as Aubrey Hole seven - one of 56 chalk pits encircling the famous ancient site.

Burials at Stonehenge were likely for people of higher status so this this study shows women were members of the elite as long ago as 2,000 BC.

Between 100 and 200 people are said to have been buried across the Stonehenge site during the late Neolithic and copper age. This study, however, focused particularly on a pit known as Aubrey Hole seven - one of 56 chalk pits encircling the famous ancient site. Remains are pictured

HOW DID THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS IDENTIFY THE SEX OF THE BONES? Christie Willis, a PhD student at University College London was tasked with identifying which part of the skeleton each fragment came from and to then establish the age and sex of the remains. She identified 14 females and nine males, with the help of CT scans and osteological analysis. Ms Willis estimated the probability that individuals were male or female on the basis of the dimensions of the ear canal, which is set within the petrous bone -the dense bone around the ear canal. This is a sturdy bone so typically survives prehistoric cremation in an identifiable form. The team used CT scans of the lateral angle of the internal acoustic canal, which provided the information needed to identify the sex of the individuals. Radiocarbon dating revealed the burials took place from around 3,100 BC to 2,140 BC - among the earliest phases of Stonehenge. Advertisement

Burials at Stonehenge (marked) were likely for people of higher status so this this study shows women were members of the elite as long ago as 2,000 BC

THE BONES FOUND IN THE PIT Between 100 and 200 people are said to have been buried across the Stonehenge site during the late Neolithic and copper age. This study, however, focused particularly on a pit known as Aubrey Hole seven - one of 56 chalk pits encircling the famous ancient site. Burial at Stonehenge was likely for people of higher status. The pit was excavated in the 1920s by archaeologist William Hawley who reburied them for safe-keeping, in what has been described as an 'undifferentiated mass.' As a result, the fragments have become co-mingled - or mixed up. In total, the team recovered 99 lbs (45kg) of cremated bone from Aubrey Hole seven. Researchers identified 14 females and nine males, with the help of CT scans and osteological analysis. Radiocarbon dating revealed the burials took place from around 3,100 BC to 2,140 BC - among the earliest phases of Stonehenge. Advertisement

Mike Pitts, Editor of British Archaeology told Discovery: 'In almost every depiction of Stonehenge by artists and TV re-enactors we see lots of men, a man in charge, and few or no women.

'The archaeology now shows that as far as the burials go, women were as prominent there as men.'

Mr Pitts believes that people buried at Stonehenge were likely from high-status families or possessed revered skills or knowledge.

They may even have been political or ritual leaders.

Christie Willis, a PhD student at University College London and an expert on human remains, sorted through the bone fragments buried in Aubrey Hole seven.

The pit was excavated in the 1920s by archaeologist William Hawley who reburied the remains for safe-keeping, in what has been described as an 'undifferentiated mass.'

'These were dug up and reburied in Aubrey Hole seven with the hope that one day there would be a breakthrough to allow them to be analysed,' Ms Willis said.

'Because of this the fragments have become co-mingled - or mixed up - which is why the work has taken so long.'

The team recovered 99lbs (45kg) of cremated bone from Aubrey Hole seven.

The pit (pictured) was excavated in the 1920s by archaeologist William Hawley who reburied them for safe-keeping, in what has been described as an 'undifferentiated mass.' As a result, the fragments have become co-mingled - or mixed up. In total, the team recovered 99 lbs (45kg) of cremated bone from Aubrey Hole seven

WHY WERE FEW CHILD REMAINS DISCOVERED? Just five child remains were found among the cremated bones of Aubrey Hole seven - fewer than expected. This is because their corpses were likely treated differently, according to the experts. Mike Pitts, Editor of British Archaeology believes that while children were likely cremated, their ashes may have been scattered in the River Avon nearby. He told Discovery there is a link between late Neolithic religious centres and the sources of significant rivers. Advertisement

Ms Willis' task was to identify which part of the skeleton each fragment came from and to then establish the age and sex of the remains.

She identified 14 females and nine males, with the help of CT scans and osteological analysis.

Ms Willis estimated the probability that individuals were male or female on the basis of the dimensions of the ear canal, which is set within the petrous bone - the dense bone around the ear canal.

This is a sturdy bone so typically survives prehistoric cremation in an identifiable form.

The team used CT scans of the lateral angle of the internal acoustic canal, which provided the information needed to identify the sex of the individuals.

Radiocarbon dating revealed the burials took place from around 3,100 BC to 2,140 BC - among the earliest phases of Stonehenge.

The study said: 'It is clear that burial at Stonehenge did not occur in a single episode. This was a cemetery used over a prolonged period.

Christie Willis, from the University College London and an expert on human remains, sorted through bone fragments (example shown left) from the famous site. Other members of the team are shown right near the pit. She identified 14 females and nine males, with the help of CT scans and osteological analysis

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF STONEHENGE? It is not known exactly why - or how - Stonehenge was built. Experts have suggested it was a temple, parliament and a graveyard. Some people think the stones have healing powers, while others think they have musical properties when struck with a stone. They could have acted as a giant musical instrument to call ancient people to the monument. What is clear, is that the stones were aligned with phases of the sun. People were buried there and skeletal evidence shows that people travelled hundreds of miles to visit Stonehenge – for whatever reason. Recently, experts said the route was a busy one and that Stonehenge could be viewed differently from different positions. It seems that instead of being a complete barrier, the Curcus acted as a gateway to guide visitors to the stone circle. Advertisement

'It spanned the first and second stages of the monument, from the circular ditch and a ring of bluestones standing in the Aubrey Holes in the first, to the subsequent sarsen trilithons and circle and rearranged bluestones erected around 2,500 BC'.

Sarsen trilithons is a Greek phrase that translates to 'three stones.'

While excavating Aubrey Hole seven, the researchers also discovered an entirely undisturbed cremation burial in its own small pit.

In this pit were some long bone pins, which were likely used as hairpins, as well as a mace head.

A mace was a ceremonial weapon and maceheads were often placed in burial tombs of people of high status.

In particular, stone maceheads were used as symbols of power and, possibly, of rank for several centuries.

This was the first of its kind to be fully recovered and documented at Stonehenge.

'The circular arrangement of the remains revealed that they had been buried in a long-vanished container, a box or bag of leather or some other organic material; no grave goods had survived,' the study continued.

Burial sites older than Stonehenge tended to be large mounds containing burial chambers and were built on hilltops far from villages.

But Stonehenge was built on lower ground relatively near an ancient settlement, which Pitts believes signifies a move from commemorations to communities inclusive of women.

However, he explained that the role of women at the heart of societies 'probably declined again towards the 3rd millennium BC [because] both archaeological and historical evidence has shown that women's status has gone up and down quite noticeably at different times in the past.'

Burial sites older than Stonehenge tended to be large mounds containing chambers and were built on hilltops far from villages. But Stonehenge (pictured) was built on lower ground relatively near an ancient settlement, which the experts believe signifies a move from commemorations to communities inclusive of women