There's more to Stonehenge than just Stonehenge. © English Heritage
English Heritage’s draft Stonehenge Management Plan is to go on show at Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes this week to highlight proposals that could see valuable archaeological collections opened out to a wider audience.
English Heritage’s ‘the future of Stonehenge’ is part of a public consultation launched in July 2008 (running to October 2008) that puts forward a series of environmental improvements including a new visitor centre and changes to the A344 past Stonehenge to improve the setting of the World Heritage Site.
However, the plan also explores the importance of Stonehenge related artefacts held by museums in the surrounding area and identifies Wiltshire Heritage Museum and Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum as being key to the wider tourist offer.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to get the million people who visit Stonehenge through our doors to see the evidence for themselves,” explained Wiltshire Heritage Museum Director David Dawson.
“We want local people and businesses to think about the potential that Stonehenge could have for Devizes. That potential is enormous; this is an opportunity to help put Devizes on the tourist map.”
A belt hook from Bush Barrow - just one of the remarkable artefacts at Wiltshire Heritage Museum. © Wiltshire Heritage Museum
The public will be invited to feedback on the proposals, which actively encourage more people through the doors of local museums.
The Wiltshire Heritage Museum holds most of the archaeological items found both within the site and the wider ritual landscape of Salisbury Plain up to 1890, making it integral to the understanding of Stonehenge and the prehistoric culture that lived around it.
“A highlight is the remarkable collection of artefacts from the Bush Burial, which is the richest Bronze Age burial in the country,” added David. “It was excavated from Bush Barrow, just south of Stonehenge, 200 years ago this year.”
Despite holding important artefacts like these, nearby museums do not, at present, benefit significantly from tourism at Stonehenge and the English Heritage plans also include suggestions for green travel schemes to allow people to more easily explore the wider area.
All of these proposals will be on view for feedback and comment at Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes between August 14 and August 17 2008.
A special evening at the Museum will be held between 5pm and 7pm on August 14 2008 in which members of the public will also be able to meet the Archaeology Field Group and find out how you can get involved in archaeology and the other services the museum and library offers. Find out more at www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk
Also, explore the Bush Barrow finds on the Wiltshire Heritage Museum website
