A virtual tour of the historic UK monument, called the Virtual World of Stonehenge, which allows users to visit one of the world’s most iconic historical sites, has just been released online to coincide with the annual summer solstice.
Along with capturing the entire 2022 British Museum’s Stonehenge virtual tour, the new online experience developed by researchers at the University of Reading allows users to travel back in time to witness the site at various stages of construction on their phones, PCs, or other devices without leaving the comfort of their homes.
Building the Virtual World of Stonehenge with 3D scans
According to a statement announcing the new online Virtual World of Stonehenge experience, the museum’s original ‘World of Stonehenge’ exhibition, which opened on February 17, 2022, attracted over 190,000 visitors and brought together “over 400 objects from 36 institutions across Europe.”
“The original exhibition brought together an extraordinary collection of prehistoric objects, many of which had never been displayed together before,” explained team member and study author, Professor Duncan Garrow, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading. However, the team noted, viewing the entire complex, interactive exhibit required in-person attendance.
To capture the experience and make it available worldwide, Professor Garrow and colleagues joined forces with researchers at the University of Southampton. They also enlisted the services of ArtasMedia, a team of “digital heritage specialists” which employed laser scans to digitally capture every inch of the exhibit. According to the team, these 3D scans of the original World of Stonehenge gallery were taken during the exhibition’s final weeks.
Taking the Online Tour Makes History “More Accessible”
Along with capturing all the original exhibit, the team said that the new online experience allows users to “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.”
“Timed to release alongside the summer solstice, the new virtual version goes well beyond a simple recreation of the gallery,” they explain.
Some of the most striking objects featured in the museum exhibit and the virtual tour include a 6,000-year-old elm leaf, a bracelet woven from cow hair, and the remains of what the team called a “prehistoric feast.” When scanned with 3D lasers and combined with their historical context, the team said the lesser-known objects and their stories suddenly become “more accessible.”
“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,” Professor Darrow said. “We hope it brings prehistoric Britain to life in a completely new way.”
Release Intentionally Timed with the Summer Solstice
When discussing the value of putting the Virtual World of Stonehenge online, Dr Neil Wilkin at the British Museum said the project has prompted him and his colleagues to consider the future of virtual museum exhibitions, “not just at the British Museum but everywhere across the world.”
Funded by UK Research and Innovation and building on AHRC-funded research led by British Museum curator Dr Neil Wilkin, in partnership with Professor Duncan Garrow at the University of Reading, the June 21st release of the online experience was timed to coincide with the summer solstice. Although some aspects of the iconic structure’s function may remain in dispute, most historians and many enthusiasts believe the site has been home to solstice celebrations for several millennia.
“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 team explained.
The Virtual World of Stonehenge is free to access from Sunday 21 June: The World of Stonehenge: University of Reading and British Museum
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.