This Easter, you can get really hands on at Stonehenge. As well as a full programme of family activities through the holidays you can test your strength against that of your Neolithic ancestors, as you help us move a four tonne stone similar in size and shape to the actual lintels of the stone circle.

The ‘Moving a Stone’ event is designed to give visitors of all ages the chance to experience just what it might have felt like to build Stonehenge. Join in with our experimental archaeology as we use an authentic hand-built sledge, ropes and rollers to move an enormous stone to try and understand how the ancient stone circle was built.

English Heritage historian Susan Greaney explains: “This sort of hands on archaeology experience is genuinely exciting as we’re trying to answer some of the mysteries surrounding Stonehenge. There is a real sense of achievement, as everyone works together to do something that people may have done here thousands of years ago. It helps you understand Stonehenge better, and feel closer to the people who built it, because you’re literally doing it for yourself. We hope that lots of families will come along and get involved.”

Volunteers have spent the winter building the sledge using replica Neolithic tools, which will be used to help us understand how the stones may have originally been moved and raised. The moving and raising a stone activity will run twice a day from Friday 12 April to Tuesday 16 April.

English Heritage is hosting a full programme of Hands on History events at Stonehenge over the school holidays, giving everyone the opportunity to explore a part of prehistory that interests them, and to see that our prehistoric ancestors were skilled and sophisticated crafts people.

Sat 6 – Thu 11 April Join expert potter Graham Taylor to learn the basics of ancient pottery skills before making your own small pot to take home.

  • Fri 12 – Tues 16 April: Moving and Raising a Stone with Luke Winter and archaeologist Julian Richards. Activity to take place at 11am and 3pm.
  • Wed 17 – Sun 21: Early technology expert Sally Pointer will be demonstrating how jewellery and other prehistoric accessories were made and visitors will be able to try their hand at cording and beading.
  • Mon 22 – Thus 25 April: Flint knapper James Dilley returns to Stonehenge to demonstrate the prehistoric skill of flint knapping – the technology that more than any other may have helped our ancient ancestors survive. James will also demonstrate bronze casting – a technique which shows what a huge step forward people took 3000 years ago when they started working with bronze – to create tools and valuable artefacts signifying wealth and status. Families will have the opportunity to craft their own ‘sun disk’ to take home.
  • Fri 26 – Sun 28 April: Neolithic bush craft expert Guy Hagg joins us to share Neolithic life-skills, from fire lighting, tool and weapon making, using bone, antler and stone to game preparation and early cooking methods. Families can have a go at preparing hazelnuts and acorns for food.

Stonehenge is open from 9:30am -7pm from the 1st April with last admissions at 5pm. All Easter demonstrations run between 10.30am and 4.30pm and are suitable for all visitors to enjoy.

For full information on these events and to plan your visit to Stonehenge please visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge

English Heritage is the custodian of over 400 historic monuments, buildings and sites through which we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million visitors each year.

www.english-heritage.org.uk

Want to find out more? A visit to Stonehenge combined with a trip to Wiltshire Museum andSalisbury Museum provides the perfect opportunity to delve deeper into the history and mystery of one of the most impressive and best known prehistoric stone monuments in the world. Check their websites for details of collections, exhibitions and events. English Heritage members have special discounted entry to these nationally important museums.