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'Exciting' to see Stonehenge artefacts go on loan

Ben Marvelland
Sue Davies,Wiltshire
News imageEnglish Heritage The inner-stone circle at Stonehenge with shadows cast on the grass and sunlight coming through the gaps in the stones with blue sky in the background.English Heritage
The artefacts include antler picks, animal bones, hammer stones and earrings taken from the Stonehenge area

Hundreds of unique artefacts discovered at Stonehenge have been loaned to an archaeological museum in Germany as part of an "exciting" special exhibition.

The exhibition, entitled Stonehenge: Ancient Secrets, New Discoveries is now on display at the Archaeological State Collection in Munich until August next year.

Roughly 600 objects including antler picks, animal bones, hammer stones, earrings and a dagger have been lent by institutions including The Salisbury Museum and Wiltshire Museum.

Dr Heiner Schwarzberg, museum curator, said that Stonehenge was "a wonder of the world" and that it was an "honour" to host the exhibition.

"The exhibition has a lovely balance between mystery and new scientific discoveries and the visitors have come out in amazement," he added.

"It's not only an exhibition about Stonehenge itself, it's also about the people of Stonehenge.

"We've been really pleased with the response so far."

News imageWiltshire Museum Two earrings – made of amber, imported from the Baltic (modern-day Denmark or Estonia) encased in gold, dating to around 1,800 BC, just under 4,000 years ago. Wiltshire Museum
Earrings from a burial chamber are among the objects being loaned from Wiltshire Museum

Adrian Green, director at Salisbury Museum, was present at the opening and said it had been "very exciting to see the items on display in Germany for the first time".

"Stonehenge is an international icon. To have it on display is a great way of showcasing not only the monument but the items discovered there."

News imageSalisbury Museum A room at the Archaeological State Collection in Munich where the new Stonehenge exhibition is on display.Salisbury Museum
The exhibition runs until August next year

The Wiltshire Museum in Devizes loaned about 40 pieces for the exhibition, including a large copper dagger.

Director David Dawson said the item had significance to both Wiltshire and Bavaria.

"The dagger was one of three burial objects found at Roundway Down, near Devizes.

"It is the largest copper dagger ever found in Britain, and the copper we know comes from the Eastern Alps, not too far from Munich."

News imageWiltshire Museum Both sides of a copper dagger that is part of the exhibition.Wiltshire Museum
A large copper dagger is also among the loaned items, with the copper believed to have originated near Munich

He added loaning pieces to other institutions was vital to supporting the local economy and spreading knowledge across borders.

"It encourages visitors to come to Wiltshire, to come and see Stonehenge and to spend their money in Wiltshire."

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