Who: Neolithic people built Stonehenge, an impressive stone monument, aligned with important sun events (e.g. the summer solstice sunrise). They transported massive sarsen stones 20 miles to the site, and the smaller bluestones, nonetheless 2 to 5 tons each, from Preseli Hills in Wales. The stones then had to be shaped (joints held the lintels in place) and erected, requiring a huge amount of manpower. A sophisticated society was surely necessary for such feats.
What: A permanent exhibition located 1.5 miles away from the famous stone circle, a visit to which is included in the ticket price, including: numerous axes and arrowheads, notably one embedded in a pig's leg; deer antlers, used for digging; and some Neolithic pottery. There is an accompanying audio guide to the exhibition, available on personal electronic devices.
When: Permanent, but alongside temporary exhibitions, 9:30–19:00 (daily) — booking in advance is recommended.
Where: Near Stonehenge, Wiltshire.
Why: This exhibition focuses on who built Stonehenge, and how. It does, however, offer suggestions as to why: both why the monument was built, and also why people have cherished it since. The exhibition distils a melting pot of incompatible theories and ideas about the pre-historic monument into a short, but comprehensive, overview.
How: You can book tickets for the exhibition and the stone circle here: englishheritage.seetickets.com/timeslot/stonehenge.
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