Our MAYA June session was something really special!  We went by coach to Stonehenge for a guided tour led by Dr Julian Richards, one of the country’s leading Stonehenge experts.  After an introductory talk, Julian led us on a walk across the surrounding landscape.  We walked along part of the Stonehenge cursus, and explored several of the Bronze Age barrows.  Julian had brought along replicas of a number of artefacts, including those which were found in the Amesbury Archer burial, which he demonstrated by one of our MAYANS re-enacting the burial on top of the round barrow!

We then set off for the monument itself.  Julian had brought along a copy of his book “The Amazing Pop-Up Stonehenge” which includes a model of the how the monument had looked with all the stones in place.  This was a very useful prop when he was explaining about the stones and the alignment of the monument.  At the end of the day several MAYANS bought the book and Julian signed it for them.

After we had walked around the monument we stopped for a picnic before heading back to the visitors centre.  The MAYANS shopped for souvenirs and then afterwards Julian took us around the reconstructed Neolithic houses.  By this time it had started to rain so after thanking Julian for a fantastic day we headed back to the coach.

This visit was made possible by the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society’s Gray Fund who very kindly paid for the coach to take us there.  We are extremely grateful to SANHS for giving our members this wonderful opportunity.