Left: the spectacular remains of six individuals were first discovered by workmen digging a trench for a water pipe. © Wessex Archaeology.

The bones of six people dating back almost 4,500 years have been discovered near Stonehenge in Wiltshire, close to the grave of the famous Amesbury Archer.

Buried together in a single grave, the remains were excavated in early May by archaeologists from Wessex Archaeology after workers unearthed them whilst digging a trench for a water pipe.

The four adults and two children are believed to be about the same age as the Amesbury Archer, dating back to 2,300BC.

Right: the area around Stonehenge continues to be a rich archaeological reserve. © English Heritage.

Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick, of Wessex Archaeology, said: "This new find is really unusual. It is exceptionally rare to find remains of so many people in one grave like this in Southern England."

Four pots in the Beaker style, typical of the period, were found in the grave together with some flint tools, one flint arrowhead and a bone toggle for fastening clothing

"The number of beaker pots in the grave is only exceeded by the grave of the Amesbury Archer, where there were five," said Dr Fitzpatrick.

Left: this bone toggle used for fastening clothing was also found. © Wessex Archaeology.

"The grave is fascinating because we are seeing the moment when Britain was moving from the Stone Age into the Bronze Age, around 2,300BC. The large number of bodies placed in this grave is something more commonly found in the Stone Age, but the Beaker style pottery is found in Bronze Age burials."

Coming just a year after the famous discovery of the Archer, dubbed 'The King of Stonehenge' by the media, the find highlights what a rich archaeological reserve the area around Stonehenge remains.

"These finds show how important the area of modern Amesbury was at the time that Stonehenge was being built," added Dr Fitzpatrick. "It is also good news that responsible companies like Wessex Water and QinetiQ are making it possible for these finds to come to light."

Right: the so-called 'Amesbury Archer' was discovered at the site of a school and housing development in May last year. © Wessex Archaeology.

Wessex Archaeology is now waiting for Radiocarbon tests on the remains to establish the precise dates of the burials.

It is possible the bones are those of people from different generations, as the grave seems to have been reopened to allow further burials to be made. The bones of the earlier burials were mixed up, but those of the later burials, a man and a child, were undisturbed.

To learn more about Stonehenge, and the megalithic heritage of the Amesbury area, visit the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum to see an award winning Stonehenge display. There's also Devizes Museum and the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester with good collections of pre-historic artefacts to see.