Key dates
4000BC-3000BC Early Neolithic - The first farming took place in southern Britain.
People began to settle in one place, keeping animals such as cattle, pigs and sheep and growing crops such as wheat and barley. They started to build ceremonial monuments such as causewayed enclosures and long barrows, including West
Kennet long Barrow.
3000BC- 2200BC Late Neolithic - The henges were constructed. These include
Stonehenge, Avebury, Woodhenge, Durrington Walls and Marden Henge. The first metal objects began to appear in Britain at this time, found in burials like that of the
Amesbury Archer (2400BC)
2200BC- 1600BC Early Bronze Age - The first bronze metal working is seen in
Britain. Priests and leaders were buried in round barrows, in the landscapes surrounding the monuments, with objects that reflected their power and authority.
These include Britain’s richest burial - the Bush Barrow Chieftain, who was buried overlooking Stonehenge.
Places to visit
Stonehenge World Heritage Site (English Heritage) Dedicated Stonehenge gallery, we provide free education visits to site for self-led and on-site education sessions. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/education/ www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge
Avebury World Heritage Site museum and henge monument www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury/
Silbury Hill http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/silbury-hill/
West Kennet Long Barrow https://www.englishheritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/west-kennet-long

Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum New Archaeology of Wessex gallery opens summer 2014. The museum offers a range of themed schools sessions for both museum visits and outreach. Sessions are specifically relating to Stonehenge people and Prehistoric Pots. http://www.salisburymuseum.org.uk/learning
Wiltshire Museum in Devizes has award winning new galleries that tell the story of wiltshire’s prehistory, including gold from the time of Stonehenge The museum offers a range of workshops and themed days in and out of schools. Sessions include
Stone Age life and religion and ritual from the Neolithic to Bronze Age http://www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk/education/
Old Sarum (English Heritage) Offer a led session in finding out how and why people from pre-history to the middle ages have invaded and settled at Old Sarum http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/education/discovery-visits/old-sarum/
Further contacts
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre education service – workshop sessions at school exploring the work of the archaeologist. http://www.wshc.eu/prehistory.html
Online resources
English Heritage tea cher’s kit on prehistory http://www.englishheritage.org.uk/publications/stonehenge-teachers-kit/
Stonehenge online resources including Stonehenge app and history of Stonehenge film http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/education/resources/stonehenge/
Stonehenge Education activities http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/stonehenge-education-activities/
Wessex Archaeology online gallery of images http://www.flickr.com/photos/wessexarchaeology/collections/
Avebury teacher’s kit with lots of information on the sites in the Avebury complex, including history of the monuments, activity sheets for pupils, timeline activity http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/learning/avebury/kit.html
Wiltshire and Swindon Historic Environment Record (HER) database of information on sites and finds in Wiltshire. Please see separate information sheet on how to use this database to find the oldest object discovered in your local area. www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wsher.htm
Wiltshire Museum Teachers’ pack with downloadable resources, including information on the sites and burials, images and gallery quiz. Film of the Bronze Age shaman http://www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk/education/