See the world of Stonehenge from your sofa this solstice
The original exhibition ran at the British Museum in 2022
A new free online experience allowing anyone in the world to step inside the world of Stonehenge exhibition and explore thousands of years of history launches today (Sunday, 21 June).
The Virtual World of Stonehenge, developed by researchers at the University of Reading and the British Museum, gives users an immersive digital tour of one of the most celebrated museum exhibitions in recent years. The original World of Stonehenge exhibition ran at the British Museum in 2022, attracting more than 190,000 visitors and bringing together over 400 objects from 36 institutions across Europe.
Timed to release alongside the summer solstice, the new virtual version goes well beyond a simple recreation of the gallery. Users can go inside Stonehenge itself and watch it change through time, explore Neolithic flint mines at Grimes Graves, and discover rarely seen prehistoric objects through animation, soundscapes and interactive content. The experience is free to access via the British Museum website and works on desktop computers, tablets and phones.
Professor Duncan Garrow, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading, said: "The original exhibition brought together an extraordinary collection of prehistoric objects, many of which had never been displayed together before. Now anyone, anywhere they are, can not only see those objects but understand the world of Stonehenge and experience how it looked and felt thousands of years ago. We hope it brings prehistoric Britain to life in a completely new way."
Dr Neil Wilkin, at the British Museum, said: “This has been an amazing opportunity to think about the future of virtual museum exhibitions, not just at the British Museum but everywhere across the world”.
Laser-scanning leaves, bracelets and crumbs
The project was funded by UK Research and Innovation and builds on AHRC-funded research led by British Museum curator Dr Neil Wilkin, in partnership with Professor Duncan Garrow at the University of Reading. The team worked with the University of Southampton and digital heritage specialists ArtasMedia to transform a 3D laser scan of the original gallery, captured during the final weeks of the exhibition in 2022, into a fully interactive online experience.
A particular focus of the project was making the stories behind lesser-known prehistoric objects more accessible. These include a 6,000-year-old elm leaf, a woven cow-hair bracelet, and the remains of a prehistoric feast, all of which are brought to life through new digital content developed specifically for the virtual exhibition.
The launch coincides with the summer solstice, the moment when Stonehenge's alignment with the rising sun has drawn people to the site for thousands of years.
The Virtual World of Stonehenge is free to access from Sunday 21 June: The World of Stonehenge: University of Reading and British Museum
FOR REPORTERS, USE CLOUD TOUR BEFORE 21 JUNE
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