Spirit Warriors
Yew wood and quartzite
Roos Carr, near Withernsea, East Yorkshire
1100–500 BC
These figures with dazzling quartzite eyes and removable phalluses travel on a serpent-headed boat.
They were deposited in a waterway...Their shields and three crewmates were found together, contained in a box.
[British Museum]
Taken during from the exhibition
The World of Stonehenge
(February to July 2022)
Towering above the Wiltshire countryside, Stonehenge is perhaps the world's most awe-inspiring ancient stone circle.
Shrouded in layers of speculation and folklore, this iconic British monument has spurred myths and legends that persist today. In this special exhibition, the British Museum revealed the secrets of Stonehenge, shining a light on its purpose, cultural power and the people who created it.
Following the story of Britain and Europe from 4000 to 1000 BC, visitors learned about the restless and highly connected age of Stonehenge – a period of immense transformation and radical ideas that changed society forever.
The human story behind the stones revealed itself through a variety of fascinating objects. Among these were stone axes from the North Italian Alps, stunning gold jewellery and astonishing examples of early metalwork including the Nebra Sky Disc – the world's oldest surviving map of the stars. A remarkably preserved 4,000-year-old timber circle dubbed Seahenge also took centre stage in the show, on loan for the very first time. All these objects offered important clues about the beliefs, rituals, and complex worldview of Neolithic people, helping to build a vivid sense of life for Europe's earliest ancestors.
Informed by ground-breaking recent archaeological and scientific discoveries, this landmark exhibition offered new insight on one of the world's great wonders, bringing the true story of Stonehenge into sharper focus than ever before.
[British Museum]
Spirit Warriors
Yew wood and quartzite
Roos Carr, near Withernsea, East Yorkshire
1100–500 BC
These figures with dazzling quartzite eyes and removable phalluses travel on a serpent-headed boat.
They were deposited in a waterway...Their shields and three crewmates were found together, contained in a box.
[British Museum]
Taken during from the exhibition
The World of Stonehenge
(February to July 2022)
Towering above the Wiltshire countryside, Stonehenge is perhaps the world's most awe-inspiring ancient stone circle.
Shrouded in layers of speculation and folklore, this iconic British monument has spurred myths and legends that persist today. In this special exhibition, the British Museum revealed the secrets of Stonehenge, shining a light on its purpose, cultural power and the people who created it.
Following the story of Britain and Europe from 4000 to 1000 BC, visitors learned about the restless and highly connected age of Stonehenge – a period of immense transformation and radical ideas that changed society forever.
The human story behind the stones revealed itself through a variety of fascinating objects. Among these were stone axes from the North Italian Alps, stunning gold jewellery and astonishing examples of early metalwork including the Nebra Sky Disc – the world's oldest surviving map of the stars. A remarkably preserved 4,000-year-old timber circle dubbed Seahenge also took centre stage in the show, on loan for the very first time. All these objects offered important clues about the beliefs, rituals, and complex worldview of Neolithic people, helping to build a vivid sense of life for Europe's earliest ancestors.
Informed by ground-breaking recent archaeological and scientific discoveries, this landmark exhibition offered new insight on one of the world's great wonders, bringing the true story of Stonehenge into sharper focus than ever before.
[British Museum]