Not far from Stonehenge, that cryptic stone formation that’s baffled British scientists for centuries, lies an even more mysterious formation… It’s called a cursus: a 5000-year-old, two-mile long, cigar-shaped enclosure that scientists thought was a Roman-era racetrack — hence the name, which means “course” in Latin.

Numerous other cursi have been found, but this one has drawn particular attention because of its proximity to Stonehenge and because no artifacts or remains have ever been discovered in it. According to archaeologist Julian Thomas of the University of Manchester, this suggests that the cursus was used for something sacred or evil. Says Thomas, “Sanctified or cursed? We really don’t know.” In other words, when it comes to the cursus, scientists are foiled again.

In related news, scientists now theorize that Stonehenge was a burial ground for a dynasty that ruled England for 500 years around the time Egypt’s pyramids were being built. According to archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson of the University of Sheffield, Stonehenge was the “Domain of the Dead” where the ancients honored their fallen rulers. Who were these ancient people and their kings? “Lord of the Rings” fans might want to speculate, but no one really knows. The Worldwide Scoop will keep you posted with anything we find out.

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