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<< Our Photo Pages >> Wiltshire Heritage Museum - Museum in England in Wiltshire

Submitted by neolithique02 on Sunday, 13 October 2013  Page Views: 49205

MuseumsSite Name: Wiltshire Heritage Museum Alternative Name: Devizes Museum, Wiltshire Museum
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 2.6 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Wiltshire Type: Museum
Nearest Town: Devizes
Map Ref: SU0055261196  Landranger Map Number: 173
Latitude: 51.349842N  Longitude: 1.99346W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
5 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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Estrela visited We intended to visit the museum in Salisbury in September 2013 whilst visiting Avebury and Stonehenge. I particularly wanted to see the Amesbury Archer. However when we got to the Devizes museum the Bronze Age display had been removed as a new display is being arranged. The manager of the Devizes museum gave me an August 2013 copy of trilithon the newsletter of the Wiltshire Arcaeological and Natural History Society, which says "Our new Prehistoric Wiltshire Galleries open on Monday 14th October" "There are four galleries"- I believe that is the Devizes museum part, but may also refer to Salisbury museum, where the new Archaeology of Wessex Gallery is due to open in Spring 2014. We will have to return.

neolithique02 have visited here

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Museum in Wiltshire. Britain’s greatest treasures from the mysterious golden age of Stonehenge have gone on permanent display for the first time ever in the largest collection of Early Bronze Age gold ever put on public display in England.

The large specially-designed new high security and humidity-controlled exhibition facility, constructed inside the museum, cost £750,000 to build, with funding coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, Wiltshire Council, the North Wessex Downs Area of Natural Beauty and other sources.

Amongst the ancient Stonehenge era treasures placed on permanent display for the first time, are a beautifully decorated gold lozenge, a magnificent bronze dagger with a gold- covered hilt, a golden fitting from a dagger sheath, a ceremonial axe, gold beads, necklaces, ear-rings, pendants and other items of gold jewellery, a unique jet disc (used to fasten a luxury garment), rare traces of ancient textiles and two of the finest prehistoric flint arrow heads ever found.

Address: 41 Long Street, SN10 1NS
Phone: 01380 727369
Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday 12 noon - 4.00 pm Sunday.
Admission: Small charge, Free on Sun & Mon
Visit their web site

Original page by Coldrum

Note: Revealing the Golden Treasures of the Age of Stonehenge, a new permanent exhibition opens Monday 14th October. See our preview of the exquisite objects, some on display for the first time
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Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum A must see in UK ! Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum - Bell beakers Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by dodomad : A ceremonial palstave axe (I think) One of the amazing gold objects from the new prehistory galleries. See the main page for more details Image copyright: Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by dodomad : Exquisite bronze age gold pendant now on display in the new prehistory galleries. See the main page for more details Image copyright: Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by dodomad (1 comment)

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by dodomad : The large sheet gold belt hook is unique in Britain. It was found near the right arm of the skeleton and was originally mounted over a wooden board. The hook and back-plate covers were constructed separately. It is decorated with delicately recessed lines, none of which are straight. One of the amazing gold objects from the new prehistory galleries. See the main page for more details Ima...

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by dodomad : A conical gold Early Bronze Age button-cover from Golden Barrow at Upton Lovell. It is made of sheet gold laid over a core made of shale. One of the amazing gold objects from the new prehistory galleries. See the main page for more details Image copyright: Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by Thorgrim : These stone heads can be seen in the Iron Age Gallery in the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes. The lower is female and the other is a so-called "Janus Celtic Head" as it has faces looking forwards and backwards. The Museum is intimate and excellent with fine models showing clearly the development of Stonehenge. Neolithic to Saxon coverage is very good and there are lots of thing for childr... (1 comment)

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by dodomad : An early Bronze Age sun-disc from Monkton Farleigh in Wiltshire has gone on display for the first time at Wiltshire Museum. It is one of only six finds of sun-discs discovered and one of the earliest metal objects found in Britain. It was made in about 2,400 BC, soon after the sarsen stones were put up at Stonehenge, and is thought to represent the sun. Courtesy Wiltshire Museum. Photo by Jo...

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum - Stonehenge gallery Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 (2 comments)

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum submitted by neolithique02 : Wiltshire Museum Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

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"Wiltshire Heritage Museum" | Login/Create an Account | 45 News and Comments
  
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My photos from Wiltshire Heritage Museum by marcgreenman on Saturday, 02 October 2021
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Taken Monday September 27th 2021

http://www.flickr.com/photos/183773182@N07/albums/72157719970133555/with/51523906932/
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Gold sun disc from the time of Stonehenge on display for the first time by Andy B on Thursday, 16 July 2015
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An early Bronze Age sun-disc from Monkton Farleigh in Wiltshire has gone on display for the first time at Wiltshire Museum. It is one of only six finds of sun-discs discovered and one of the earliest metal objects found in Britain. It was made in about 2,400 BC, soon after the sarsen stones were put up at Stonehenge, and is thought to represent the sun.

The sun-disc was found in Jug's Grave burial mound at Monkton Farleigh, just over 20 miles from Stonehenge. It was found in 1947 in excavations by Guy Underwood along with a pottery beaker, flint arrowheads and fragments of the skeleton of an adult male. It was kept safe by the landowner since its discovery and has only now been given to the Museum. It has now been cleaned by the Wiltshire Council Conservation Service and has been placed on display in time for this year’s mid-summer solstice.

The sun-disk is a thin embossed sheet of gold with a cross at the centre, surrounded by a circle. Between the lines of both the cross and the circle are fine dots which glint in sunlight. The disc is pierced by two holes that may have been used to sew the disc to a piece of clothing or a head-dress, and may have been used in pairs. Until recently it has been thought that early Bronze Age gold may have come from Ireland, but a new scientific technique developed at Southampton University is hinting that the gold may have come from Cornwall.

Museum Director David Dawson said “We have the best Bronze Age collections in Britain and we are delighted to be able to display this incredibly rare sun-disk through the generosity of the donors. It was kept safe since its discovery by Dr Denis Whitehead and the first time that it had been seen by archaeologists was when he brought it to show me at the launch of our new Prehistory Galleries in 2013. It has now been presented to the Museum in remembrance of Denis S Whitehead of Inwoods, Farleigh Wick.”

The latest research on Bronze Age gold includes a conference paper by Alison Sheridan and Stuart Needham –
http://repository.nms.ac.uk/1292/
and a major research report by John Hunter and Ann Woodward, published by Oxbow books –
http://www.oxbowbooks.com/oxbow/ritual-in-early-bronze-age-grave-goods.html

Southampton University research –
http://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2015/05/irish-gold-trade.page

Wiltshire Museum is an independent charity, with some revenue funding from Wiltshire Council and Devizes Town Council. The Museum is run by the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (WANHS), a registered charity founded in 1853.

Source: Wiltshire Museum
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Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by neolithique02 on Saturday, 17 May 2014
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I was at the museum last week and was impressed by the quality of the artefacts regarding bell beakers and early bronze age. For me it is really a must see if you do Stonehenge or Avebury.

See my visit on video here (with french comment sorry !) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jl1Cm1Nj8w
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Revealing the Golden Treasures of the Age of Stonehenge, opens Monday 14th October by Andy B on Sunday, 13 October 2013
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Revealing the Golden Treasures of the Age of Stonehenge
New permanent exhibition opens Monday 14th October

Britain’s greatest treasures from the mysterious golden Age of Stonehenge are to go on permanent display for the first time ever. This will be the largest collection of Early Bronze Age gold ever put on public display in England. In a move that will transform public understanding of the Stonehenge era, the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes, 15 miles north of Stonehenge, is exhibiting 500 Stonehenge period objects, including 30 pieces of gold treasure which have rarely been seen by the public before.

The large specially-designed new high security and humidity-controlled exhibition facility, constructed inside the museum, cost £750,000 to build, with funding coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, Wiltshire Council, the North Wessex Downs Area of Natural Beauty and other sources.

Amongst the ancient Stonehenge era treasures placed on permanent display for the first time, are a beautifully decorated gold lozenge, a magnificent bronze dagger with a gold- covered hilt, a golden fitting from a dagger sheath, a ceremonial axe, gold beads, , necklaces, ear-rings, pendants and other items of gold jewellery, a unique jet disc (used to fasten a luxury garment), rare traces of ancient textiles and two of the finest prehistoric flint arrow head ever found.

“These and other spectacular treasures from the Age of Stonehenge were unearthed by antiquarians and archaeologists in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but until now it’s never been possible to give the public permanent access to them,” said David Dawson, Director of the Wiltshire Museum.

"But now, after generous funding from a number of national and local organisations, we have been able to create a secure and stable environment in which they can be enjoyed by visitors to the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site from Britain and around the world.

“Stonehenge is an iconic monument – but this is the first time that such a wide range of high status objects from the spectacular burials of the people who used it, has ever been put on permanent display”.

The most precious gold, jet and amber objects from the period are being permanently brought together to tell the story of the people who lived in and around the Stonehenge landscape when the monument was one of the great religious focal points of western Europe. Indeed, many of the items may well have been worn by Bronze Age priests and chieftains as they worshipped inside Stonehenge itself,” said Mr Dawson.

“Axes and daggers on display in the new purpose-built galleries are identical to images of weapons carved into the giant stones of Stonehenge itself.” “We believe the new displays are a major step forward in helping to explain the extraordinary sophistication of the remarkable people who used the world’s most famous prehistoric monument,”.

The new facility not only features treasures from the Age of Stonehenge, but also recreates some of the key places they were unearthed. Archaeologists have recreated the famous Bush Barrow burial, where a Bronze Age chieftain was buried in regal splendour overlooking Stonehenge itself.

The museum hopes that the new display will help attract substantial numbers of additional tourists to Devizes, generating jobs in the local community.

“Devizes is mid-way between two of the world’s most important ancient monuments – the great prehistoric stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury. Visiting the Wiltshire Museum completes the experience of seeing these two iconic sites. “ said Mr Dawson.

The new facility, consisting of four new galleries – form the centre-piece of the relaunched Wiltshire Museum. The museum is run by the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, an independent charity founded 160 years ago. It now has 1,000 members.


Read the rest of this post...
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    Re: Revealing the Golden Treasures of the Age of Stonehenge, opens Monday 14th Octobe by sem on Sunday, 20 October 2013
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    I visited yesterday and can only describe the experience as extremely disappointing. The centrepiece is a mock-up of the Bush Barrow burial where the gold lozenge was found and the "gold" items in it look as though they were painted using Airfix paint. Whilst looking at this another visitor actually asked me if I knew where the display of gold artifacts was!
    At a fiver each to get in (that's including gift aid), C and I thought the £6.20 to get back over the bridge to Wales was money well spent.
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      Re: Revealing the Golden Treasures of the Age of Stonehenge, opens Monday 14th Octobe by AngieLake on Sunday, 20 October 2013
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      So, where ARE the original gold artefacts Sem? I thought they were also on display somewhere in that museum?
      You went a long way that day for nothing, by the description you gave.
      (That blessed toll goes up every year, doesn't it?!) :-(
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        Re: Revealing the Golden Treasures of the Age of Stonehenge, opens Monday 14th Octobe by sem on Monday, 21 October 2013
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        Hi Ang
        I assume they are all there, approx 15 of them (scattered amongst stone and bronze artifacts), and to be honest they are impressive. But the description given by the museum suggests something more akin to the King Tut treasures than a few bits of gold foil!
        One thing I couldn't find was the gold palstave shown on the website. After being asked what a palstave was (!?!) it was suggested that that I look in the Anglo-Saxon gallery (even more !?!s).
        Maybe I am being picky, but seventy five grand has been put into this project and I seriously doubt if, in the words of the web-site, it will lead to more visitors. My only recomendation is the chocolate trilobite - £1.30, hand made Belgian and and cast from what I assume is a mould of Ogygiocarella.
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Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by Estrela on Thursday, 12 September 2013
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We visited the museum in September 2013 whilst visiting Avebury and Stonehenge. I particularly wanted to see the bronze age artefacts from various local sites. However when we got to the Devizes museum the Bronze Age display had been removed as a new display is being arranged. The manager of the Devizes museum gave me an August 2013 copy of trilithon the newsletter of the Wiltshire Arcaeological and Natural History Society, which says "Our new Prehistoric Wiltshire Galleries open on Monday 14th October" "There are four galleries"- I believe that is the Devizes museum part, but may also refer to Salisbury museum, where the new Archaeology of Wessex Gallery is due to open in Spring 2014. Volunteer guides are being sought.
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Wiltshire Heritage Museum to open new prehistory galleries in the autumn by Andy B on Monday, 19 August 2013
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The centrepiece of the new displays are the objects buried with the Bush Barrow Chieftain almost 4000 years ago. He was buried close to Stonehenge with the objects that showed his power and authority– a gold lozenge, a ceremonial mace and a gold-decorated dagger.These are just some of the rich Bronze Age objects that are on display for the first time in new high security showcases. Gold ornaments, amber necklaces, ritual costume, polished stone axes and bronze daggers tell the story of the people who lived at the time when Stonehenge, Avebury and Marden henges were great ceremonial centres.

More Stonehenge and Avebury news here:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/imported-docs/k-o/megalith-jul2013.pdf
(PDF)

You can explore the finds from Bush Barrow online in their Virtual Stonehenge Museum.
http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/galleries/index.php?Action=3&obID=114&prevID=24

With thanks to Coldrum for the link
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Lecture on the Stonehenge Landscape Project, Devizes Museum, 10 December, 2011 by Andy B on Friday, 02 December 2011
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LECTURE: The Stonehenge Landscape Project:
2:30 pm, Saturday, 10 December, 2011

Recent Analytical survey and investigation in the World Heritage Site, by David Field.

Monuments within the Stonehenge Landscape have rarely been subject to survey techniques in modern times and in many cases reliance has been placed on Ordnance Survey depictions of the early 20th century. In advance of the establishment of a new visitor centre and to complement and support the recent university programmes of excavation in the area, English Heritage has been conducting the Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project to determine what non-destructive survey techniques can tell us about the area. Using ground survey, aerial photography, lidar and laser scanning a number of fresh and sometimes surprising conclusions emerge. This talk will outline the results so far.

David Field is a senior landscape archaeologist at English Heritage. He has undertaken extensive research into the prehistory of Salisbury Plain and the Vale of Pewsey, including the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. Publications include ‘Earthen Long Barrows’ 2006), ‘The story of Silbury Hill' (co author with Jim Leary, 2010), 'The Field Archaeology of the Salisbury Plain Training Area' (2002) and ‘Ancient water management on Salisbury Plain’ in Patterns of the Past: Essays in Landscape Archaeology (1999). He has also contributed a number of articles to WANHM, most recently as one of the joint authors of the reports on the Breamore jadeite axehead and the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Midden at East Chisenbury, in Volume 103 (2010).

Saturday afternoon lectures start at 2.30pm and last approx. one hour.

Non-members - £5.50 WANHS members - £3.50

http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=663&prev=1
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WINTER EXHIBITION: The Past is Another Country by Andy B on Thursday, 10 November 2011
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WINTER EXHIBITION: The Past is Another Country, Devizes Museum

Events WINTER EXHIBITION: The Past is Another Country: an Exhibition by the Elementals Art Group
On until 2nd January 2012
Artwork inspired by the pre-history of Wiltshire.
The Elementals art group brings together the ideas and inspirations of six different artists under a central theme -

- Jenny Ford, Jan Knight, Julia Leyden, Christine Shorney, Josephine Sumner, plus guest artist Charlotte Sainsbury. The project has been as much about the process of an idea, as the finished works of art.

The group studied archival maps and diagrams, artefacts in museums and photographic aerial views of the landscape - and walked and looked, and looked and walked! Rather than recreating the past they have distilled their own personal and emotional responses to the creations of the Neolithic and Bronze Age peoples of Wessex. Inevitably this involved straying outside Wiltshire to look at and compare sites and artefacts from other places.

Each artist has an individual ‘take’ on the project and this is reflected in the finished works themselves; which includes paintings, printmaking and mixed media, plus a twelve verse illustrated poem in book form and as a wall hanging.

Exhibition will be on show in the Museum's Art Gallery from 5 November 2011 to 2 January 2012. Please check opening times.
Cost: Normal Museum Admission Charges Apply

http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=676&prev=1.
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FAMILY DAY: Romans vs Celts, Devizes Museum,30 October, 2011 by coldrum on Sunday, 23 October 2011
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FAMILY DAY: Romans vs Celts
11:00 am, Sunday, 30 October, 2011

It's AD43 and the Roman armies have invaded Britain. Join us at the Museum for an action-packed day, and find out how the Celtic Warriors responded to the invasion. Which side will you take? Try your hand at Roman and Celt crafts, and much more ...


Meet Roman soldiers and discover what their daily routine was like 2000 years ago. Also meet a Celt - are they as fearsome as history tells us?

Activities to try, include:

* Mosaics
* Pottery making
* Roman helmet making
* Celt face painting
* Celtic pattern printing
* Try on costumes
* Dig for Roman objects in our archaeological sand trays.
* Strike an Iron Age coin
There may a small extra charge for some of these activities to cover the cost of materials.

Plus Magical Celtic Storytelling by Lizzie Bryant.
The sessions will be bookable on arrival as there are limited numbers per session, which will be at 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm. Charge of £1 per child.

Pre-booking not necessary, just come along any time between 11am and 4pm and join in the fun.

Cost: £2 adults, children FREE

http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=679&prev=1
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Anglo-Saxon Wiltshire: Landscape, Settlement and Society - Saturday 19th Feb 2011 by Andy B on Wednesday, 05 January 2011
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Saturday 19th February 2011

LECTURE: Anglo-Saxon Wiltshire: Landscape, Settlement and Society

Simon Draper will present a wide-ranging study of Wiltshire from the end of the Roman period to the Norman Conquest.

Focusing on the three themes of landscape, settlement and society - and drawing on archaeological, historical and place-name evidence - Dr Draper examines the transition between Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon Wiltshire, evaluating the evidence for the interaction of the British and Germanic peoples and cultures in the county. He will also assess the origins of key medieval institutions, such as the Church, the parish, the hundred, the manor, the village, and the open fields.

Until recently Dr Draper was Assistant Editor of the Victoria County History of Gloucestershire, and he is now Research Associate at the University of the West of England working on a major project on the history of English family names.

Saturday afternoon lectures start at 2.30pm and last approx. one hour.
http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=604&prev=1
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White Horses and Hill Figures Forum, 11th September by Andy B on Saturday, 31 July 2010
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Saturday 11th September 2010

WILTSHIRE WHITE HORSES AND HILL FIGURES FORUM

A day of illustrated talks on the chalk figures of Wiltshire.

Following on from our successful Day School this event is aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of Wiltshire's chalk figures, and to facilitate the formation of a White Horses and Hill Figures network. It will include illustrated talks from many of the individuals, groups and societies associated with Wiltshire's chalk figures.

The Forum will run from 10am to 4pm and further information will be posted here in due course. If you would like further information, please click on the e-mail link.

Visit http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/ to find out more.
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Stonehenge Avebury Bus Service by WiltshireHeritage on Wednesday, 07 July 2010
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The Museum is planning to run a bus service to link Stonehenge and Avebury, and including a number of stops so that visitors can explore the World Heritage Site. Included in the ticket price will be entry to the Museum - which features Britain's best bronze Age Archaeology collection. To find out more, and to help choose the name of the service, vist the museum website.
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White Horses and Hill Figures with David Miles,Paul Newman, Rodney Castleden and more by Andy B on Saturday, 05 June 2010
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This looks to be a very good line-up of speakers, spotted by coldrum:

Saturday 24th July 2010

DAY SCHOOL: White Horses and Hill Figures

A Day School exploring the chalk figures carved into the landscape of Britain with leading experts.

Accompanying our summer exhibition White Horses and Hill Figures , the White Horses and Hill Figures Day School will feature talks by leading experts on the subject.

9.30am - arrival and welcome
10.00am - introduction by Brian Edwards, Public Historian
10.15am - Paul Newman 'Galloping through the centuries: introducing Britain's hill figures: History, culture and controversy.
11.30am - David Miles 'The Uffington White Horse: A biography of an English icon'.
1.30pm - Bryn Walters 'New discoveries and other thoughts on prehistoric monumental iconography'.
2.45pm - Professor Martin Bell 'The Wilmington Giant: A geoarchaeological perspective'.
3.45pm - Rodney Castleden 'Two chalk giants. who are they - and how can we tell?
Finish 5pm

£18 or £15 for members

A full programme, including more information about each topic, can be downloaded here.
http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/documents/?LibraryID=31#l31
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Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by Anonymous on Sunday, 16 May 2010
THE LONG MAN OF WILMINGTON

The Location
Viewed from the sea, the south coast of England faces the English Channel, the most well known portions of its coastline are the white chalk cliffs near the sea-port of Dover.
Eastbourne, a coastal seaside resort not far from Dover, affords the visitor wonderful views of the Sussex Downs, sheep graze on the slopes, fresh breezes blow away any cobwebs in one’s mind. The grassy Downs roll in an undulating fashion for mile upon mile, a hinterland that holds promise of rewards for the explorer.
A short distance inland from the south coast is The Long Man of Wilmington, an outline figure portrayed on a north-facing hillside. An excellent view may be had from the nearby road. The figure’s origin has mystified local people and visitors from far afield.




At my request, the Secretary of the Sussex Archaeological Society8arranged to measure the height of ‘The Long Man of Wilmington’ figure, no easy task on the 280 incline. He advised the distance was 68.13 metres from head to toe. A slight difference between the furlong [68.4 metres, the furrow length] and the Secretary’s measurement of 68.13 metres can readily be excused by difficult surveying conditions and the width of outline ditches showing the exposed white chalk sub-strata.

Recent History
An article and sketch by Dr Phene describing the Long Man of Wilmington was published in the Sussex local Graphic newspaper dated February 7th, 1874. The Doctor gave his idea of the original shape and proportions of the figure. The upper parts were well proportioned. The lower portions of the figure were unclear, the feet and ankles shown only by dotted lines. Dark sediment had washed down the 280 slope, filling the channels of exposed chalk and allowed grass to grow. The figure held two staves of realistic appearance, thick at the top and tapered towards their base.
No doubt the publicity resulting from Dr Phene’s initiative and the newspaper illustration led to a restoration effort by the Reverend W. de Saint Croix and his colleagues in April, the spring of 1874. The present outline of the Long Man of Wilmington was created in the form illustrated with two thin straight staves, a part extended above the hands. The April figure has a left foot portrayed in a curious manner.
Which of the two figures most closely represented the original Long Man is open to question, a matter that may not be resolved for a long time. Meanwhile, without delving too deeply into that aspect, it is clear that the figure represents an upright man holding two vertical sticks or staves in his outstretched arms.



The Real Long Man
Alfred Watkins13 offered observations concerning The Long Man of Wilmington and his identity, the substance of which are as follows. Recall the description of an infirm man who walked with the aid of two sticks or staves was termed ‘doddery’. The Long Man of Wilmington has two sticks or staves but no appearance of any infirmity. A series of reference searches provides these hints to the Man’s identity: -

The Oxford English Dictionary9 volume II, pp 574 and 576 provides these definitions of ‘dod’ and ‘doddery’: -
Dod - A stalk, staff or club. A reeds mace or cat's tail, 'typha latifolia', [a tall slender plant with an enlarged top].
The noun Dodman: - Origin unknown; connected with dod; a snail, a hoddy doddy.
References include Francis Bacon AD 1626 who wrote 'Animals that cast their shells, lobster, crab, dodman, tortoise'.
In 1674, Fairfax referred to 'snayl or dodman'.
Charles Dickens put the words: - “I'm a regular dodman” into the mouth of Mr. Peggotty in his 1848 novel ‘David Copperfield’.
The appellation ‘dod’ can be traced in Lower’s and Reaney’s Dictionaries9of Surnames that define ‘Dod’ to mean a stave or staff maker, a person engaged in that occupation.
A Dictionary

Read the rest of this post...
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Summer Exhibition: White Horses & Hill Figures by Andy B on Tuesday, 11 May 2010
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SUMMER EXHIBITION: White Horses & Hill Figures,Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Our summer exhibition this year explores the mysterious chalk hill figures carved into the landscape of Britain - with a particular emphasis on Wiltshire.

There are many white horses and hill figures carved into the landscape across the country, from the Uffington White Horse, to the Cerne Abbas Giant and the Long Man of Wilmington.

Our exhibition, however, focuses primarily on Wiltshire from the spirited white horses galloping across the landscape to the military badges which are poignant reminders of the past.

To see and hear more about the exhibition, see the Exhibitions Officer, Jenna Spellane, interviewed by Vision News South.
http://www.vnsouth.tv/videos/white_horses_and_hill_figures

Exploring their location, design, history, legends, folklore and maintenance requirements the exhibition features some stunnning aerial photographs provided by Last Refuge Ltd, to whom we are immensely grateful. The exhibition also includes historical items and ephemera, as well as artistic interpretations through photographs, artwork, ceramics and poetry from local, national and international artists. Items from the Museum's own collection not usually on show are included, together with items from other organisations and private collectors.

Events and activities have been planned to compliment the exhibition including a summer school, evening walk and White Horse themed Family Day.

The exhibition runs until 3 October 2010.

http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=512&prev=1
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Researching Stonehenge & Avebury, 22nd May 2010, by Andy B on Wednesday, 28 April 2010
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Researching Stonehenge & Avebury
10:00 am, Saturday, 22 May, 2010
Researching Stonehenge & Avebury

A joint research seminar organised by the Prehistoric Society and the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society in association with the Avebury Archaeological and Historical Research Group

Recent work in the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site has transformed our understanding of both landscapes, demonstrating how much we can still learn from well-focussed research about even the best-known aspects of prehistoric Britain. With major projects like the Stonehenge Riverside Project, the Longstones Project, and the Silbury Hill Conservation Project recently published or in the post-excavation stage, this seminar will present and assess what we have learnt, and discuss future research directions. It will also inform the revision of the Avebury Research Agenda and aid integration between the two parts of the WHS, which are too often treated entirely separately. A range of speakers, all of whom are currently engaged with research at Stonehenge or Avebury, will discuss what we know and what we still need to know about the landscapes, monuments and material culture of this most significant area for British prehistory:

10.00 Welcome by Amanda Chadburn

10.20-12.45 Environment, Survey & Archives (speakers: Mike Allen, Martyn Barber, Dave Field, John Hunter, Rob Ixer, Stuart Needham, Colin Shell and Stefanie Vincent)

13.00-13.45 Lunch

13.45-16.15 Monuments & Excavations (speakers: Tim Darvill, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Jim Leary, Mike Parker Pearson, Josh Pollard, Colin Richards and Julian Thomas)

16.15 Discussion, with invited discussants, followed by a wine reception at Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Booking:

Allocation of tickets is now SOLD OUT, but more may be available in early May. Please let us know if you would like to be on the reserve list. . Contact the Bookings Secretary on 01380 727369, send us an e-mail or book online. A total of 60 tickets are also available from the Prehistoric Society - write with your details to Tessa Machling, Prehistoric Society, c/o Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Sq, London WC1H OPY.

http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=511&prev=1
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White Horses and Hill Figures: summer exhibition by WiltshireHeritage on Thursday, 08 April 2010
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White Horses and Hill Figures, an exciting major new exhibition, opens at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 27 March. Reflecting primarily on the county of Wiltshire, where spirited white horses can be seen galloping across the chalk downlands, and military badges stamp poignant memories of the past into the landscape. The exhibition explores how the white horses and military badges of Wiltshire were created, their locations, their design, the stories of their history, and associated legends and folklore, as well as the continuing maintenance needed to preserve them. Featured are historical items and ephemera related to white horses and hill figures, as well as artistic interpretations such as photography, artwork, ceramics and poetry created by local, national and international artists. The items include normally unseen pieces from the Museum’s collection, other Organisations and private collectors. The exhibition will be accompanied by a summer school on 24 July featuring talks from the most well-known hill figure experts in Britain. Jenna Spellane, Exhibitions Officer says “We want to show off the beauty, history and mystery of Wiltshire’s chalk downlands with its unique and characteristic artistry that covers and adorns the landscape. We are immensely grateful to Last Refuge Ltd for providing stunning aerial photographs, as well as to numerous chalk hill figure restoration societies for information and images.” Photo © - Dae Sasitorn and Adrian Warren, Last Refuge Ltd. Authors of the book 'England: An Aerial View'. The exhibition runs until 3 October 2010. Usual admission charges apply.
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LECTURE: Silbury Hill: the Archaeology of a Monumental Mound by Andy B on Tuesday, 15 December 2009
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Saturday 23rd January 2010

An illustrated lecture by Jim Leary, the English Heritage archaeologist responsible for the recent survey on Silbury Hill.

In 2007-08 English Heritage undertook major works to stabilize Silbury Hill, parts of which were collapsing due the effects of the several tunnels and shafts which had been dug in to the hill over the last 200 years, particularly the large tunnel dug by R J Atkinson in conjunction with the BBC in the 1960s, and which were never backfilled. Before the tunnels were filled with chalk to prevent further erosion, the opportunity was taken to make an archaeological record of the inside of the hill. The sides of the tunnel were cleaned and recorded using high-resolution photographs and environmental samples were taken including biological remains such as insects, pollen and snails, and a number of artefacts including flint and antler tools were recovered. Radiocarbon dating of this archaeological material will allow specific dates to be attributed to the different stages of construction.

Jim has been working since the survey on the analysis of the data. The full report of the work, which is being prepared for publication, should answer some of the questions about this important and enigmatic monument such as – How was it built? When was it built? How long did it take to build?


Visit http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/ to find out more.
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LECTURE: Music of the Ancient World by Andy B on Tuesday, 15 December 2009
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Saturday 20th February 2010

LECTURE: Music of the Ancient World

An illustrated lecture with musical accompaniment by Dirk Campbell a composer and instrumentalist.

Dirk has composed scores for film, TV, commercials and stage and has studied the connection of present-day instrumental traditions to the earliest known instruments.

He will show that it is possible to have a good idea what music was like thousands of years ago by plotting certain triangulation points: pitch systems, instrumental techniques and instrumental designs which are similar to those of ancient times, such as the Silver Pipes of Ur (dating from c. 2,500BC) which have equidistant finger holes of similar dimensions to reeded pipes in use in that part of the world today. As a result it is possible to reconstruct the music of the ancient world with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

The lecture, accompanied by illustrations of the earliest instruments to be discovered and demonstrations of replica instruments, will cover music from the earliest known times to the so-called ‘dark ages’ in Europe. It will include music and information from discoveries all over the world, the spread of instruments and pitch systems, and the relationship of the various pitch systems to the harmonic series and how they express symmetry and balance.

For further information visit http://www.dirkcampbell.co.uk
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The Parkers of Heytesbury: The First Field Archaeologists by Andy B on Tuesday, 15 December 2009
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Saturday 6th March 2010

LECTURE: The Parkers of Heytesbury: The First Field Archaeologists

A lecture by Paul Everill about Stephen and John Parker, labourers from Heytesbury who helped William Cunnington with his excavations.

Histories of archaeology often focus on the role of wealthy, educated men and women in the development of the field techniques and the production of knowledge. While it is undeniable that these individuals were, in many senses, the instigators of archaeological endeavour and interest, traditional histories of the discipline ignore the central contribution of the ordinary excavators. Principal amongst these forgotten pioneers must be Stephen and John Parker of Heytesbury, the two labourers employed by William Cunnington on all his excavations between 1801 and his death at the end of 1810. This lecture uses evidence from the original letters and documents held in the WANHS library at Devizes to illuminate the role of the Parkers, and argues that the two men should be given greater credit for their contribution to the fledgling discipline of archaeology.

Paul Everill holds a doctorate from the University of Southampton and currently teaches applied archaeological techniques at the University of Winchester. He has established research interests in contemporary commercial archaeology; the history of archaeology; the development of fieldwork techniques and contemporary practice; and archaeological pedagogy. He is co-director of an archaeological expedition to the former Soviet republic of Georgia, which has been running since 2001.

Lectures last approx. one hour.


Visit http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/ to find out more.
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Talk by Mike Parker-Pearson - Stonehenge Riverside Project - Sat 10 Oct by coldrum on Thursday, 08 October 2009
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Talk by Mike Parker-Pearson - Stonehenge Riverside Project - Sat 10 Oct

An evening lecture by Mike Parker-Pearson about recent results from the Stonehenge Riverside Project at 7 pm Saturday 10 October at Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes. You can book online at
http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=452&prev=1
or you can book by credit card by telephoning the Museum on 01380 727369.
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Museum celebrates £150,000 grant success by coldrum on Thursday, 01 October 2009
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Museum celebrates £150,000 grant success

Wiltshire Heritage Museum is celebrating an award of £150,000 to help create a new prehistory gallery at the museum.

The new gallery will feature Britain’s richest Bronze Age burial, found at Bush Barrow, near Stonehenge. The finds from the burial have been described by the Daily Mail as ‘Britain’s first Crown Jewels’ that once belonged to the ‘king of Stonehenge’. The gold finds will be on permanent display in Wiltshire for the first time in generations.

The Museum is home to the best Bronze Age collections in Britain, and the new displays will be at the heart of a revitalised museum, which will also feature a lift to enable access to all the museum displays. The new gallery will be developed in collaboration with the planned new Stonehenge Visitor Centre.

The award is of one of 34 Grants totalling £4 million from the DCMS / Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Scheme that will improve displays and facilities at 34 museums up and down the country. Culture Minister, Barbara Follett said, “We are fortunate to have so many excellent museums and galleries in this country, with fascinating collections and dedicated staff, providing a really great visitor experience for the public. These grants help ... good quality museum projects that will enhance displays and interpretation

Chairman Bill Perry said, “This substantial grant is a major step forward towards our goal of putting the gold objects from the Stonehenge Bush Barrow on permanent display and creating new galleries to display our important prehistoric collections. It is the first success in our fundraising campaign that we launched in May this year.”

Director, David Dawson said, “This is fantastic news for the Museum, our visitors and for Devizes. We are now working closely with English Heritage and Salisbury Museum on the new Stonehenge Visitor Centre, and our new displays will encourage thousands of people to discover Devizes”.

The Fundaising Campaign for the Museum was launched in May 2009 in a story carried by the Daily Mail and the Bush Barrow finds were featured in a BBC News report.

http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/news/index.php?Action=8&id=83&page=0
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The king of Stonehenge: Were artefacts at ancient chief's burial site Britain's first by Andy B on Monday, 11 May 2009
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An article in the Daily Mail features the finds from Bush Barrow, and calls the man buried there the "king of Stonehenge". The article announces the start of a fund-raising campaign for a new exhibition at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes so that it can display the real finds, rather than them being kept out of sight.

He was a giant of a man, a chieftain who ruled with a royal sceptre and a warrior's axe.

When they laid him to rest they dressed him in his finest regalia and placed his weapons at his side. Then they turned his face towards the setting sun and sealed him in a burial mound that would keep him safe for the next 4,000 years.

In his grave were some of the most exquisitely fashioned artefacts of the Bronze Age, intricately crafted to honour the status of a figure who bore them in life in death.

For this may have been the last resting place of the King of Stonehenge - and the treasures that are effectively Britain's first Crown Jewels.

Now the entire hoard, recovered from the richest and most important Bronze Age grave on Salisbury Plain, is set to go on permanent display.

But 21st-century Britain has thrown up a problem that never troubled ancient man. The artefacts are so rare that they have been kept in a bank vault for the past three decades because they are too precious to put on show without extensive security.

So today the Wiltshire Heritage Museum at Devizes is announcing a £500,000 appeal to fund a secure gallery. It will allow the treasures to be displayed alongside some of the many other wonders of Stonehenge, giving a fascinating glimpse of what life was like some 1,800 years BC.

The remains of 'Tall Stout Man' were uncovered two centuries ago by archaeologists trying to unravel the ancient stone circle's enduring secrets. In 1808 their attention turned to Bush Barrow, a huge burial mound that boasts the most commanding view of Stonehenge from nearby Normanton Down.

Clearly whoever lay here was important. Only when the chamber was excavated, however, did it become apparent just how important. Measurements taken from the skeleton showed that the man would have towered above contemporaries at over 6ft tall.

Most of the articles buried with him in the 130ft-diameter, 10ft-high barrow were so fabulously rare that only someone of royal, military or religious power might possess them.

More in the Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1180243/The-king-Stonehenge-Were-artefacts-ancient-chiefs-burial-site-Britains-Crown-Jewels.html
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Lecture:The Invisible Stone Circle: To See or Not to See, 21st March by coldrum on Wednesday, 18 March 2009
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LECTURE: The Invisible Stone Circle: To See or Not to See
2:30 pm, Saturday, 21 March, 2009

A lecture by renowned archaeologist Aubrey Burl.

There are hundreds of stone circles in the British Isles. Every year hundreds of thousands of people visit them. Sometimes there is a sign, usually uninformative, occasionally inaccurate. There may be stones in a ring, tall stones, small stones, fallen stones – but nothing else. Just silence.

Yet, it is untrue. The stones tell their own story, unshaped but intentionally chosen to record the beliefs of the people who erected them. The stones are the literature distant, illiterate people left for us to read. One stone circle shows how it can be read ……

A member of the Society, Aubrey Burl was at one time Britain’s best selling archaeological author. His books on Stone Circles have been published and reprinted in many editions (with slight variations of title), and he is well known for challenging the theory that the bluestones were brought to Stonehenge from Preseli by man and has written extensively too on Avebury. For many years as principal lecturer in archaeology at Hull, he now works as an archaeological consultant and writer. He was quite particular about the choice of date for his lecture ……
Booking:

Recommended. Contact the Bookings Secretary on 01380 727369, or click here to send an e-mail.
Cost: £4.00 (£3.00 for WANHS members)

http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=384&prev=1
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    Lecture:The Invisible Stone Circle: To See or Not to See, 21st March by Aluta on Wednesday, 18 March 2009
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    Would love to attend this!
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    Lecture:The Invisible Stone Circle: To See or Not to See, 21st March by Anonymous on Wednesday, 18 March 2009
    Professor Burl is amazing - this talk will surely be superb. Will call in after going to sunrise at Stonehenge on 20th.

    Happy equinox to all megalith-heads !!
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    Lecture:The Invisible Stone Circle: To See or Not to See, 21st March by TheCaptain on Wednesday, 18 March 2009
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    Unfortunately, this lecture by "our hero" Aubrey Burl is fully booked.
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    Lecture:The Invisible Stone Circle: To See or Not to See, 21st March by Anonymous on Thursday, 26 March 2009
    Sniff. I didn't know abut this till after ther event. Makes me feel a teeny bit better to know it was booked up anyway. What makes it more gutting is that Devizes is only just down the road from us. We've always wanted to meet Dr. Burl, man who get me really interested in stone circles and ancient ritual (which plays a big part in my current job.)
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LECTURE: the Earliest Art of Western Europe by Andy B on Monday, 01 December 2008
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LECTURE: the Earliest Art of Western Europe
2:30 pm, Saturday, 13 December, 2008
Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes, SN10 1NS

A lecture by Andrew Lawson.

Rock art on cave walls and in the open, and dating from the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age, is to be found from Southern Europe to Scandinavia. But prehistoric man also decorated small objects of bone, ivory, antler and stone. Which came first, the wall paintings or the portable objects, and what were these first artists seeking to achieve – were their representations purely decorative or did they have symbolic or magical purposes?

Andrew Lawson is an acknowledged expert on the subject A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, he is also a former Trustee of the Society, and was for many years the Director of Wessex Archaeology, during which time he led the extensive excavations at Potterne. He is now a freelance archaeologist and author.

Booking:

Recommended. Please contact the Museum shop to purchase tickets, telephone 01380 727369 or e-mail office@wiltshireheritage.org.uk.

Cost: £4 (£3 WANHS members)
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Insignia of dignity: Gold at Stonehenge - Special exhibition 25/6 Oct Only by WiltshireHeritage on Wednesday, 22 October 2008
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Special exhibition marking 200 years since the excavations of Bush Barrow

A very special exhibition of objects rarely displayed, including gold, will be on show at Wiltshire Heritage Museum over the weekend of 25 and 26 October 2008. The finds were excavated from Bush Barrow, Salisbury Plain, in 1808; the richest and most important Bronze Age grave excavated in Britain. To accompany the exhibition, 'Insignia of Dignity: Gold at Stonehenge', a lecture about Bush Barrow will take place at Devizes Town Hall on Sunday 26 October.

First excavated in 1808, Bush Barrow on Normanton Down was found to contain, beside the burial of an adult male, an extraordinary assemblage of Bronze Age finds. This included two diamond-shaped plaques (lozenges) and a belt hook of sheet gold, a bronze axe head and two daggers and replicas are displayed at Wiltshire Heritage Museum. To celebrate the bi-centenary of the excavation the original finds, including the gold, will be displayed at the Museum for the first time in over 25 years. There will also be a short multi-media presentation introducing visitors to the objects.

Over the last year or so, led by researchers from Birmingham University and funded by the Leverhulme Trust, finds from the excavation have been intensively studied and their report will be the subject of the lecture Bush Barrow and the Normanton Down Early Bronze Age cemetery: a bicentennial appreciation. The lecture by Stuart Needham, Andrew Lawson and Ann Woodward will review the knowledge and understanding of Bronze Age burial complexes on Normanton Down, with especial reference to Bush Barrow.

David Dawson, Director, said “this is a unique opportunity to see not just the gold from Bush Barrow, the grave of a Bronze Age warrior buried within sight of Stonehenge, but the unique manuscripts and drawings will tell the vivid story of its discovery 200 years ago. Added to that, the opportunity to hear the results of the latest archaeological research make this an event that must not be missed.”

Tickets for the exhibition cost £5 for adults (children free). The Museum will be open 10am to 5pm on Saturday 25 October and 11am to 4pm on Sunday 26 October. Tickets for the lecture cost £10 and include a visit to the exhibition. Tickets are available from the Museum shop, wanhs@wiltshireheritage.org.uk or telephone 01380 727369.
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A Celtic Feast: the tale of the Chisledon cauldrons, Wiltshire Herirage, 1st Nov by Andy B on Tuesday, 21 October 2008
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A lecture by Andrew Fitzpatrick of Wessex Archaeology.

In late 2004 a metal detectorist chanced upon a major hoard of what turned out to be large Iron Age cauldrons on the edge of the village of Chisledon. It was a little while before the significance of the find was appreciated but Wessex Archaeology carried out a lengthy excavation, donating their time and expertise for free.

The cauldrons appear to mark the site of a large feast near the line of the ancient Ridgeway. It is speculated that they may have been buried as part of a ritual following a celebration to commemorate a high-society marriage, political alliance or an end to hostilities.

The find has been described by the British Museum (where the cauldrons are now undergoing conservation) as “unprecedented, not just nationally significant but of great interest too to many of their colleagues in Europe”.

A fuller account of the discovery appears in Issue 214 (January 2008) of Current Archaeology.

Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick is one of the senior staff of Wessex Archaeology, and oversaw the excavation of the cauldrons.

Booking: Recommended. Contact the Bookings Secretary on 01380 727369

http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=353&prev=1
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Orkney: The Neolithic World Heritage Site,13 August, 2008 by Andy B on Wednesday, 16 July 2008
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Orkney: The Neolithic World Heritage Site,13 August, 2008, Wiltshire

LUNCHTIME TALK: Orkney: The Neolithic World Heritage Site
1:00 pm, Wednesday, 13 August, 2008

An illustrated talk by Lisa Webb, Acting Curator.

The talk will focus upon a group of sites known as 'The Heart of Neolithic Orkney', all in use about 5,000 years ago. They have been recognised as being among the most outstanding ancient monuments in the world and were added to the World Heritage list in December 1999. The talk is based on a trip to Orkney in 2007 to visit the settlement/village of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness and the Maeshowe chambered tomb.

Lunchtime talks start at 1.10pm and last 45 minutes. Just come along and enjoy an interesting and informative talk.
Booking not necessary - just come along.
Cost: £2.50 - bring your sandwiches, we will provide tea/coffee

http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=333&prev=1
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Art exhibition of megaliths - by Dave Gunning by Andy B on Friday, 20 June 2008
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Art exhibition of megaliths - by Dave Gunning

28 June to 26 October 2008

David Gunning: A Retrospective - will highlight the work of this internationally renowned artist over the last 25 years. His work is inspired by the prehistoric landscape, both in the United Kingdom and overseas, notably the South Korean island of Ganghwa. This exhibition will include a number of his well-known works of Neolithic monuments throughout the country, including Avebury.

The exhibition will be opened by archaeologist Aubrey Burl at a private view on Friday 27 June. Aubrey Burl is well known for his studies into megalithic monuments and has published many books, including A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany (2000).

David Gunning, awarded Year of the Artist in 2000/01 by the British Arts Council, is an exceptionally fine artist. He started out drawing the industrial landscape around Wolverhampton as a teenager but has since undertaken many commissions to draw prehistoric sites around the country and in 2005 he spent time in South Korea drawing the dolmens – structures consisting of a large flattish stone supported by two or more smaller upright stones.

David has had more than 50 one man shows and his work is held in many collections, including the Queen’s Royal Collection, the Palace of Westminster collection, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the National Museum of Wales. This is a welcome return visit to the Museum by David, who has exhibited here on a number of previous occasions.

Lisa Webb, Acting Curator, who has organised the exhibition, said ‘this exhibition is a must see for anyone with an interest in the prehistoric landscapes of the British Isles’.

The exhibition will be on display in the Museum’s Art Gallery from 28 June to 26 October 2008. Usual Museum admission charges apply (FREE on Sundays).

See the Wiltshire Heritage Museum website for more information.
http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/
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Archaeological Walk on Salisbury Plain, 26 April 2008 by Andy B on Thursday, 17 April 2008
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12:00 am, Saturday, 26 April, 2008
To be led by Roy Canham, former County Archaeologist for Wiltshire.

This guided walk affords a rare opportunity to see the historic landscape which is part of the Salisbury Plain Training Area and usually closed to the public: this walk will include the Barrows and field systems on the MOD’s Bulford ranges.

Before his retirement Roy Canham was the County Archaeologist for Wiltshire and he has an unrivalled knowledge of the archaeology of the county. He was largely responsible for persuading the MOD to introduce measures to protect archaeological remains on their land from damage during military training.

The afternoon will involve a walk of over two miles, some of it uphill and over rough ground. Please only book for this outing if you can manage this terrain. Suitable clothing and stout walking boots or shoes should be worn.

Because of the restricted access to MOD land a coach (picking up in Pewsey, Devizes and Upavon) has been arranged.

Booking details at
http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=300&prev=1
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First Farmers - the Neolithic in Britain, 20 October, 2007 by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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First Farmers - the Neolithic in Britain, 20 October, 2007

LECTURE: First Farmers - the Neolithic in Britain
2:30 pm, Saturday, 20 October, 2007
An illustrate lecture by Dr Sarah Milliken.

Sarah Milliken is a Research Associate at the Oxford University Institute of Archaeology and a part-time tutor for University Archaeology courses. She is a specialist on Human Evolution and the Stone Age.

Following her very popular lecture last year on the Palaeolithic period, Dr Milliken has kindly agreed to return to talk to us about the Neolithic, or New Stone Age, when people established permanent settlements, started farming, and learned to make pottery.

Booking:
Recommended.
For further information, or to book a place, contact the Bookings Secretary on 01380 727369.
Cost: £3.00 (£3.50 on the day)
http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=250&prev=1
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Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by TwentyTrees on Friday, 14 April 2006
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140406. Visited this museum today (after a very good lunch in a nearby Italian restaurant - Francos); even better than expected. The collection of Neolithic and Bronze Age exhibits were extensive and thought provoking. Most memorably the collection of finely worked Bronze Age gold, and associated decorative wear, such as the jet and amber beads, were just stunning - the Upton Lovell Amber necklace has to be seen to be believed. Wonderfully presented.

Having visited a number of nearby round barrows over the past few days it was very interesting to see the finds which had been discovered during their excavation. Some of the fine work - the awls in particular - were fascinating. Despite reading widely on the subject recently, there is no substitute for visiting the barrows, and museums like this to see the finds for yourself.

Some of the Neolithic content was also excellent although, unsurprisingly, not as broad in range as the Bronze Age exhibits. The pots from various long barrows were interesting, and to see the various types of grooved ware next to each other, and the fine examples of Neolithic pots was very informative.

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Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by AngieLake on Friday, 24 June 2005
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Visited this lovely building with its fascinating displays and info on Wednesday, 22nd June 2005, on way home from Avebury. Told the receptionist how impressed I was, and what good value the visit had been for £1. She regretfully informed me that I'd been lucky, as the entry fee will be £4 from 1st July.
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Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by Andy B on Monday, 27 September 2004
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Welcome Andrew. You have some interesting displays on your new web site. Good one.
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Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by Anonymous on Monday, 27 September 2004
Hello there, I'm Andrew Tucker, the Assistant Curator at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes, just to let you know that we're still here. Money is always going to be a problem at the museum, but we have a lot of friends helping us, not least Julian Richards, who just gave a fundraising lecture for us and is actively promoting us whenever he can. We've recently got a new website up and running Our Website and still have our regular programme of exhibitions and lectures. Thanks for your comments and concer, hope to see you in the museum sometime.
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Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by Anonymous on Thursday, 27 March 2003
David Mitchell writes:

I was very concerned to read this - those who have visited Wiltshire
Heritage Museum know that it houses an utterly priceless collection of
prehistoric artefacts - so I asked the museum to comment on the above.

Here is the curator's reply:

hanks for your e-mail about our funding. There is a little, but not much, truth in the statement. Essentially the story is that we rely for part of our funding on a grant from Wiltshire County Council.

They had said initially that our grant for 2003-04 was dependant on our having had 18,000 visitors in 2002-03, and it looked as if we were falling slightly short of that figure. However, the condition was changed this year so that now the grant we receive in the next financial year will be worked out by dividing their target figure of 18,000 by the actual number of visitors we had.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes.

Dr Paul Robinson
Curator
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Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by Vicky on Sunday, 01 December 2002
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This is a great little Museum for adults and kids alike. There is plenty to keep little ones amused including a foam model of Stonehenge to build, a working quern for grinding corn and Iron Age dressing up clothes.

For the adults there are loads of artefacts from Wiltshire and Stonehenge including replicas of the gold found in Bush Barrow and even replica Bronze Age pots made by Wedgwood!
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    Re: Wiltshire Heritage Museum by enjaytom on Saturday, 10 July 2010
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    The Bush Barrow gold artefacts are a great exhibit. Be sure to view the rhombus shaped gold Plate. Observe the inscribed line patterns around the edges and within. Viewed from either end, a slim pin placed in either of two small holes on the long axis extremities offer alignments with sunrise and/or sunset at the direction of the zigzag lines' intersections with the outer perimeter. These directions mark midsummer solstice, Llew or Lugh harvest festival time, the Autumnal equinox, Halloween or Samain, midwinter solstice, Imbolc at the end of January when lambing was imminent, Spring equinox and then the fertility Beltane festival on May first. The Plate would have found use about the time Stonehenge was erected in 2300 BC.
    The Bush Barrow Plate was a transportable means of determining these eight Sun calendar dates for local communities all the way from Cornwall to Kent, to France and even as far away as Nebra in Germany. Known as an 'alidade', the Plate probably served as a means of unifying the Stonehenge Sun calendar dates all the way across the country.
    ISBN-978-0-9578282-5-4.
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