One of the most exciting features of the new Stonehenge visitor centre will be an external gallery, which will include three reconstructed Neolithic houses. Using archaeological evidence and authentic materials, these buildings will provide a real and tangible link for visitors to the distant past. People will be able to walk into these houses and see how people may have lived 4,500 years ago.
During excavations at Durrington Walls in 2006-7, something quite extraordinary was discovered – prehistoric houses dating to 4500 years ago. Recent radiocarbon dating has shown these houses were inhabited in around 2,500 BC; exactly the time sarsen stones were being erected nearby at Stonehenge. [this is open to interpretation - the most recent research apparantly indicates the Stonehenge dates predate the neolithic houses but let's not pick hairs and spoil a good intro... - MegP Ed]
The closeness of the dates raises the distinct possibility that the people who occupied the seasonal settlement at Durrington were involved in the construction of the sarsen stone settings and in celebrations at Stonehenge.
Be part of an archaeological experiment and help Engish Heritage present the story of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. Using traditional building methods and locally sourced materials, you could help recreate a Neolithic house based on archaeological findings.
Using traditional and locally sourced building materials and following the archaeological findings from Durrington Walls, we plan to recreate three Neolithic houses.
This is an experimental archaeology project and we will be attempting to answer questions such as:
What did the roof look like?
What is the best ‘recipe’ for making a hard chalk floor?
What was it like to be inside these houses?
The project will run over three phases and we will be looking for volunteer support at every stage:
Phase 1 – March to May 2013
Build prototype houses at Old Sarum near Salisbury, Wiltshire
It is planned that the project will run from Tuesday to Saturday during March to May 2013. We are looking for volunteers to commit to at least five days volunteering across the project.
For more details see English Heritage's volunteering page here
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/get-involved/volunteering/roles-available/8164923212
and details of the wider project are here
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/our-plans/our-proposals/new_external_gallery/
Phase 2 – October to December 2013 will involve building three houses in the external gallery at the new Stonehenge visitor centre
Phase 3 – 2014 onwards is to provide live interpretation and demonstrations for visitors to explain the lifestyles and technology of Neolithic people.
We are already hearing from readers who will be volunteering so why not join them.
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road