The World of Stonehenge

Pete

May 23

Stonehenge (photo by Lara Eakins - https://www.flickr.com/photos/rhubarble/)

Sue and I went to the World of Stonehenge exhibition at the British Museum at the weekend. It traces the period from around 4000 BC to 1000 BC, when the monument was at it's zenith and tells the story of the people and the world they inhabited. It is a period which at it's beginning saw the change from hunter-gatherers to farmers and which towards the end sees the rise of metal ornaments and weapons.

The items on display include stone axes and other stone tools and stunning gold jewellery and early metalwork. There is also a display of timbers from Seahenge, a remarkable timber circle found on the coast and rescued from the sea. The items in the exhibition chart the change in ritual practice and life over this period. It is interesting how many of the later metal ornaments still reflect the 'sun-focus' of Stonehenge and other monuments of the time

The exhibition runs at the British Museum until the 17th July this year and I would encourage anyone who is able to go and see the artefacts on display, many of which have come from overseas collections and have not been seen in the UK before.

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