Discover the world's oldest calendar

Archaeologists believe that the "oldest" moon in the world of Aberdeenshire in Scotland has been discovered.

When digging fields at Castle Crathes, British experts led by Birmingham University found a series of 12 pits with signs of simulating the moon's weeks and tracking lunar months.

Illustration of the location of similar holes with the lunar cycle - (Photo: RCAHMS)

According to the initial analysis, this is a vestige of an ancient monument created by people of the gathering period about 10,000 years ago.

Experts say these empty pits may once contain wooden pillars.

The Middle Stone Age calendar is thousands of years older than similar time-measuring sites created in Mesopotamia, according to a report published on the Internet Archeology.

The location of the holes is similar to the position of the sunrise in the middle of winter, to adjust the periodic time of the year to match the seasonal changes.

The study brings together groups of scientists from Birmingham University, St Andrews, Leicester and Bradford.