Hands on History

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This half term the BBC Hands on History team are challenging families to unravel the mystery surrounding the creation of Stonehenge with a new whistle-stop tour across the UK.

For one day only, 21 February 2011, an area of the Queens Arcade Shopping Centre will be taken back in time with a near life-size inflatable section of the prehistoric monument standing at over 4metres tall.

This unique event will include a variety of fascinating ancient activities including an interactive mini-drama, where the Hands on History ‘archaeologists’ will take audiences through the challenges of constructing Stonehenge using only the apparatus that would have been available over four thousand years ago.

As well as the dramatisations, families will also be able to find out about ancient sites to visit nearby and can get hands on with the historical artefacts, on loan from the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, including arrow heads and ancient tools.

Families can continue their history experience online by visiting the Hands on History website, www.bbc.co.uk/history/handsonhistory, where they can watch a new animation with the campaign character ‘Eric’ embarking on an ancient adventure, order a free pull out time line for kids and find out about more events and activities near them.

The tour accompanies the new BBC Two series ‘A History of Ancient Britain’. This factual series sees Neil Oliver embark on the story of how today's Britain and its people came to be, forged over thousands of years of ancient history.

This leg of the tour is one of five taking place around the country giving people the chance to learn more about ancient history in an entertaining and innovative event. The tour is free to attend, suitable for all ages and there is no need to book in advance.