A Hidden Landscape
STONEHENGE
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PERHAPS THE MOST FAMOUS LANDMARK
OF THE WORLD. BUT STILL A MYSTERY
Visited a million times, a tourist magnet, an
instantly recognized emblem.
Stonehenge. Its name alone evokes the vision of
a magic space.
A silent, serene, mystical scenery. Its sheer
dimensions leave us in awe. Every approach
seems to get stuck on a purely physical level.
Clearly felt, but inconceivable secrets whet our
What for? And why? Questions very often asked
since Medieval times. Some stunning answers
and the newest insights is what this exhibition
is about.
© LBI ArchPro / 7reasons
appetite for answers.
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THE MYTH GETS AP PROACHABLE
Stonehenge is probably the most famous prehistoric monument. Myths and legends rank
around its origin, its purpose, and its builders.
For the first time ever, the exhibition “Stonehenge.
A Hidden Landscape” internationally presents
the fascinating cult complex Stonehenge and its
surrounding landscape, in the light of the latest
research findings on a much bigger and older
stone circle at Durrington Walls.
several original finds that have never before
touched and discovered in detail. State-of-the
been seen outside the British Isles. The visitor
art digital animations of the surrounding land-
embarks onto a journey into the spiritual world
scape allow an in-depth and vivid experience
of our ancestors of more than 4,000 years ago.
of a sunken world, full of wisdom, mysticism
Gigantic stone models in original size can be
and religion.
© Niki Gail
“Stonehenge. A Hidden Landscape” displays
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HISTORICAL FACTS.
AND THEORIES
For more than two thousand years, Stonehenge
must have been the most significant temple complex in the British Isles. Its history begins around
3,000 years B.C. when the site was set as an earth
wall with its enclosure made of wooden poles.
was aligned according to nature’s seasons. Cre-
Around 2,500 B.C. the stone arrangement was
vations in and around the complex have revealed
its spiritual character. However, there is also the
mation burials, known today as Aubrey holes,
set up whose remnants can still be seen today.
many objects which still give archaeologists valu-
theory that Stonehenge was a sanatorium since
were also located at the site. They form a circle
The stones’ alignment is in sync with the sea-
able insights into life at the time. In the ditch and
the bluestones are said to have healing powers.
of 56 holes in the inside of the earth wall.
sons: at summer and winter solstice the longest
rampart area, for example, animal bones have
One widely believed but incorrect assumption is
and shortest day are indicated by the precise
been found which, in some cases, seem to have
that Stonehenge was built by druids. However,
arrangement of the stones.
been deliberately deposited.
the Celtic druids lived approx. 1,000 years later,
The Stonehenge complex does not only consist of
Many theories have been postulated about the
at a time when Stonehenge had already been
the visible gigantic stones. Archaeological exca-
use of the complex. Most of them are referring to
abandoned.
© atelier olschinsky
Even in these early beginnings, the construction
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What remains of Stonehenge today is just rem-
The stone circles are made of two types of stones
must have worked together to manage this task.
nants of the former complex. But one can still
which differ in the type of rock used and in size.
The stones were professionally cut. All stones
imagine how impressive it must have been.
The colossal “sarsen stones” with a weight of
were given an angular shape. Precise mortise
When the complex was completed, it resembled
35 tons, each, were transported to the site from
and tenon joints and also tongue and groove
a perfect structure: each stone was aligned with
a distance of 30 kilometres. The smaller “blue-
joints were created for the stone uprights. It is
the others. A 4,500 year’s old true masterpiece
stones” with a weight of 3 tons, each, all come
nearly incredible but true that the only available
of craftsmanship.
from Wales, more than 240 kilometres away.
instrument for all these masonry work steps were
Stonehenge consists of two stone circles and
The stones were probably transported with sleighs
stone tools.
also two horseshoe-shaped constructions.
and rollers made of wood. Presumably 200 people
© Niki Gail
PERFECT STRUCTU RE
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STONEHENGE IN TI ME
Using the latest technology and modern scientific methods, The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute
Vienna and University of Birmingham extensively
mapped the landscape around Stonehenge. Their
began long before the standing stones were
even erected, and ended before the first druids
Evidently, Stonehenge never stood alone. The
ever laid eyes on the stone circle. Doubtlessly a
famous prehistoric stone circle is only part of
sensational discovery: Stonehenge landscape
a landscape bearing hundreds of monuments –
is to be dated thousands of years earlier than
some visible, others still undetected.
formerly assumed!
© LBI ArchPro / Geert Verhoeven
finds prove that the history of this sacred site
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STONEHENGE IN CONTEXT
co-director of The Stonehenge Hidden Landscape
Among their discoveries are 17 ritual mon-
Stonehenge is the world’s most well-known
Project, took over the curation of „Stonehenge. A
uments, including the remains of a massive
preserved prehistoric monument. Nevertheless,
Hidden Landscape“. With geomagnetic prospection
‘house of the dead’, hundreds of burial mounds,
the much larger „Superhenge“ at Durrington
and ground-penetrating radar measurements, his
and evidence of a possible processional route
Walls is even older. Finds in Lower Austria of
team examined an underground area of more than
around Stonehenge itself. What also came
a historic circular have even been dated to
14 km² around the stone circle. He is working
to light is a mile-long so-called „Superhenge“
an age of almost 4,000 years. „Stonehenge.
alongside with Julian Richards (ARCHAEmedia)
at Durrington Walls. It was once flanked by as
A Hidden Landscape“ offers its visitors new
as one of the renowned researchers in connection
many as 60 gigantic stone or timber columns,
insights and perspectives, allowing them to look
with Stonehenge.
some of which may still be buried under the soil.
at Stonehenge in a larger historical context.
© LBI ArchPro / 7reasons
Wolfgang Neubauer, Scientist of the Year (2015) and
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A three-dimensional model of the entire Stone-
True-to-scale reconstructions of the stone circle
At the site of Stonehenge in Wiltshire/England, a
henge site reveals the magnitude of this prehis-
based on 3D laser scan data let visitors expe-
large number of visitors and necessary preser-
toric landscape and its development over time.
rience the magnificence and dimension of this
vation measures make it impossible to enter the
It most certainly will be a center of attraction.
cult monument. Elaborate visualizations give a
stone circle directly or touch the stones. „Stone-
Designer Christof Cremer created impressive
three-dimensional impression of the landscape
henge. A HIdden Landscape“ allows visitors to
visualizations that locate the visitors at the cen-
surrounding Stonehenge so that visitors are able
experience the site with all senses. Real sarsen
ter of the stone circle. As fullsized replica, its
to imagine the stone circle and also picture all of
stones and bluestones out of the ancient quarry
grandeur can be grasped in every aspect, with
the fascinating cult monuments in the extensive
are on display, welcoming visitors to look, feel,
all senses.
surrounding area.
and touch.
© Niki Gail
EXHIBITION DESIG N.
A SENSUAL EXPER IENCE
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Working together with renowned cooperation
“Stonehenge. A Hidden Landscape” gets realized
partners, academics from Austria and abroad
in cooperation with Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for
and experts in exhibition design and multimedia
Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archae-
presentation, MAMUZ is showing the first-ever
ology (LBI ArchPro), ARCHAEmedia, University
exhibition about Stonehenge. MAMUZ is one of
of Birmingham, 7reasons, Interspot Film, Byte-
the leading museums of prehistory in Austria and
wood and many more.
well known as an a centre of experiences and
Turnkey tour management and logistics will be
knowledge.
provided by Museumspartner.
© Niki Gail
ABOUT THE EXHIBI TION
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Accompanying Program
Technical Data
„Stonehenge. A Hidden Landscape“ offers a
Flexible modular exhibition design
broad variety of side programs, e.g. workshops,
Floor space: 500 to 1000m2 + / 6.500 to 11.000
lectures, and guided tours.
Languages
square-feet +
Room height: 3 to 6 m variable / 10 to 20 feet
variable
The exhibition is designed to be presented in
680 Objects (approx.) from the collections of
one or two languages
• Museum of prehistory MAMUZ / Landessammlungen Niederösterreich
Target Groups
• Wiltshire Museum in Devizes
The exhibition’s modern scientific approach, a
• Salisbury Museum
playful yet informative presentation form, and
• Dorset Country Museum
fascinate visitors from all age groups and fields
of interest.
• and others
Tour management and turnkey exhibition:
Museumspartner
(including concept, content, agreements, copyright, insurance, floorplan, logistics, installation,
and maintenance)
© Niki Gail
the general appeal of the subject matter will
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attracted more than 1.3 million visitors. Successful exhibitions about the Iceman Ötzi were visited internationally by more than two million people within the last decade.
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concepts, project management, budget, exhibition design, production, insurance, transport and art handling, legal agreements, delivery and installation.
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Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Wolfgang Neubauer
Curator, Contents, Research
Prof. Dr. Julian Richards
Curator and Objects
Mag. Matthias Pacher
Project Management and Concept
July, 2016 Text Stanton Warwick
SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION