Salisbury Museum ★☆☆
Explore the prehistoric heritage of Stonehenge and other highlight of the Salisbury Plain
History buffs can stop by the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum to get information about early humans and the remains of nearby prehistoric sites such as Stonehenge and Old Sarum.
Among the highlights are the contents of two Late Neolithic (2400–2200 BC) graves found near Stonehenge, the Late Neolithic Stonehenge Archer found in the ditch surrounding Stonehenge itself, and the impressive Amesbury Archer, discovered near Stonehenge in one of Britain's earliest bell beaker graves alongside 18 arrowheads, two bracers (wrist guards for archery), five beaker pots, four boars’ tusks, 122 flint tools, three copper knives, and a pair of gold hair ornaments.
Many of the Amesbury Archer's grave goods actually came from the Continent, and isotope analysis proves he wasn't a native Briton at all, but rather was probably born somewhere near the Alps where there is an indication he learned metalworking, a skill he would have been among the first to employ once he moved to these isles.
Entering the historical era, there is the Bowerchalke Hoard of 100BC gold coins made by the Durotriges tribe and modeled after Greek coinage, and some nice AD 3C–4C Roman-era pottery made in the New Forest and a floor mosaic found in the 1950s during the excavations of a Roman villa at Moot Close, Downton.
A separate section of the museum contains displays and artifacts related to medieval life in Salisbury itself.
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The Salisbury Museum tells the story of south Wiltshire - an extraordinary landscape which has been the cradle of unparalleled human achievement for over half a million years. The museum's world-class collections include internationally important finds from Stonehenge and the oldest gold objects ever found in Britain. The temporary exhibitions explore objects, art, culture and lives – all joined through the centuries by this unique landscape.
The Salisbury Museum is based in the King's House, a medieval grade I listed building opposite of Salisbury Cathedral. The museum's displays include nationally important archaeology from Stonehenge, fine art including watercolours by JMW Turner and impressive local history.
In the stunning new Wessex Gallery of archaeology you can discover 500,000 years of history. Exhibits include the famous Amesbury Archer and the Pitt-Rivers Wessex collection of archaeology. The other galleries reveal the history of Salisbury through costume, fine art, everyday objects and ceramics. The museum also has an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions - for example later this year John Constable's Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows will be on display at the museum.
The museum has a vibrant family events programme, often with family trails over the school holidays. The cafe (open 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday) offers wonderful home baked meals with outdoor seating that has unrivaled views of Salisbury Cathedral.
