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Blog
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Neolithic Hall Build Stonehenge
Building the Neolithic Hall at Stonehenge
We’re proud to be part of the team constructing the new Neolithic Hall at Stonehenge. This exciting project offers a unique opportunity to develop our skills with traditional stone tools and gain a deeper appreciation for the remarkable craftsmanship of Neolithic carpenters.
The Project
The construction is taking place at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre over the winter months, with completion expected in late spring. The building is being made from ash, oak, and pine — species that would have been present in the landscape when Stonehenge was first built.
Traditional Tools and Techniques
The hall is being constructed entirely by hand, using a combination of stone and steel tools. Every stage of the build involves experiments with stone tools, and data is being carefully recorded to understand their performance and effectiveness.
Preparing the Timber
At the start of the project, a large pile of logs was delivered to the site. Our first task has been to strip the bark and reduce the timbers to size using both stone and steel tools. This has given us valuable insight into the challenges Neolithic builders would have faced.
Experimental Neolithic Woodworking
One of our experiments has focused on using stone axes to shape and join timber. We’ve been testing how well stone tools perform by cutting V-shaped notches into pine logs, recording the time taken, the number of axe strikes, and the volume of wood removed. These trials are helping us better understand authentic Neolithic woodworking techniques.