Since the end of 2021, the news that the British Museum will exhibit one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" for the first time in early 2022 has been reported by many media. Today, the highly anticipated show opens as scheduled and immediately features on news sites including the BBC and CNN.
The exhibition, titled "The World of Stonehenge", opened on 17 February local time in London and will run until 17 July this year, featuring more than 430 artifacts from across the UK and across Europe.
The claim to the "Seven Wonders of the World" is not officially recognized, and there is more than one way to define it. In the minds of most people, British Stonehenge is juxtaposed with extremely large man-made objects such as the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Wall of China, and is arguably one of the most famous landmark ancient wonders in Europe. Located on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, these boulders stand on the empty surface of the earth, neatly enclosed in a huge circle.
British Museum 'World of Stonehenge' exhibition page
It was discovered early on that every summer solstice, the rising sun from the northeast rises between two boulders, and standing in the middle of Stonehenge can perfectly appreciate this spectacle. However, the secrets of stonehenge go far beyond that – archaeological remains such as temples, cemeteries and totem poles found around it reveal that Stonehenge may have had important religious and sacrificial significance at the time.
Neil Wilkin, curator of the exhibition "The World of Stonehenge", said: "In the minds of the vast majority of people, Stonehenge is a group of mysterious megaliths, a famous ancient wonder. In addition, the more historical and cultural background of Stonehenge is unfamiliar to the general public. The purpose of this exhibition is to introduce people to the background of Stonehenge. ”
Famous stonehenge
Many of the artifacts on display are new archaeological discoveries from the landscape around Stonehenge. One of the most eye-catching pieces is a chalk stone drum and a matching stone ball and bone needle on display for the first time, dating back about 5,000 years. Archaeologists believe that this artifact is the most important excavated artifact in the United Kingdom in the past hundred years.
The decorative motifs of the chalk rock drums are very similar to the Art Styles of the Stonehenge period and were found in the coffin where three children were buried. Archaeologists speculate that the stone drum should be an ancient sculptural artwork that served as an amulet to accompany the children who died early.
Chalky stone drum and stone balls, bone needles
"The finding was very moving. The emotions expressed by these drums are powerful and timeless. Neil Wilkin said: "We are honoured that the British Museum will be the first place for the public to be able to see this important artifact. Together with other ancient artifacts, it will tell the spectacular story of Stonehenge and the ancient and vibrant world to which it belongs. ”
In addition, important artifacts on display at the exhibition include the famous Nebra sky disc, a disk unearthed in Germany with golden symbols believed to represent the sun, moon and stars, and is thought to be probably the oldest artifact of astronomical symbols ever found, dating back about 3,600 years.
A golden hat dating back more than 3600 years, with a motif thought to represent a possible monthly calendar
In addition, a 4,000-year-old "Seahenge" on the exhibition site is also in the spotlight — it consists of a huge, upward-turning giant tree root and dozens of oak pillars around the roots, which archaeologists believe is likely to be a religious altar dedicated to the dead.
Wilkin stressed that most people tend to think of Stonehenge as a British spectacle, but in fact it represents an interconnected ancient world and its cultural life that is around 4500 years old and spread across Europe. "What we're trying to say is that you can't really understand Stonehenge without understanding the cultural context of Europe."
Red Star News reporter | Qiao Xueyang
Edited | Duan Xueying
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