AN ancient monument said to rival Stonehenge in its importance, could be the region's next tourism attraction.

Thornborough Henges, near Ripon in North Yorkshire, date back about 6,000 years to the Neolithic period, but are largely unknown to all but a handful of experts.

That could all change, following the completion of a six-year excavation of the site by a team of archaeological experts - and already the possibility has been raised of a visitor centre being built.

The Vale of Mowbray has a number of Neolithic sites, dating from 4000BC to 2200BC. The earthworks comprise of seven henges, or circular enclosures, two older cursuses, or cigar-shaped enclosures, and a number of Bronze Age barrows.

According to Dr Jan Harding of Newcastle University, they are, together with the Devils' Arrows near Boroughbridge, "an archaeological resource equal to the World Heritage sites of Avebury, Stonehenge and Orkney."

Dr Harding added: "Such a concentration of monuments of this type is unparalleled in Britain.

"They are the largest such sites outside the Wessex chalkland, while the structural complexity of their layout is unmatched by monuments elsewhere."

In archaeological circles the site, and its importance, are well-known and small-scale excavations have been carried out since the late 19th Century.

However, in 1994, a detailed and extensive research project got under way, led by Dr Harding.

That project has been completed and funding is now being sought to allow the findings to be published.

Councillors in Hambleton are being asked to give £1,000 towards the cost because of its possible tourism benefits.

"The complex is little known and rarely visited by the general public.

"The lack of visitors arises from the lack of publicity and displays or other presentational material," said the council's head of planning, Steve Quartermain.

"There is scope to develop the site as a low-key tourist and educational venue, and the principal landowner has expressed an interest in this form of development, with the development of a visitor centre."