A new exhibition started last 8 June at the National Museum in Cardiff (Wales). Tinkinswood, Bryn yr Hen Bobl, Bryn Celli Ddu 'The Hill of Black Grove' and Pipton - four burial tombs are featured in the latest exhibition, 'Death in Wales: 4000-3000 BC', showing until 24 September.
     The exhibition presents a revolution witnessed by Wales over 6000 years ago when massive stones were arranged as houses for the dead, and human bones became tools for the living. It was a way of death quite alien from our own. There are over one hundred Stone Age tombs in Wales – massive stone chambers, homes for the dead. How were so many corpses squeezed into such a small space? Was everyone buried at the same time? These are just some of the questions tackled in the exhibition..
     Exhibition Curator, Dr Steve Burrow, says: "Stone Age people treated their dead in ways very different to us. The exhibition shows these differences. It's as much about letting people reflect on how we treat our own dead as it is about studying the past.
"Most of the exhibits are human bone, but we've also made room for some other Stone Age artefacts, including new evidence we've discovered - a previously unknown link between Wales and Stonehenge."
     Also accompanying the exhibition is one of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales's most recent publications. 'The tomb builders in Wales 4000-3000 BC' focuses on Welsh tombs, a particular rich source of information. A book launch will be held at the National Museum Cardiff on Wednesday 21 June.
     Entry to all national museums is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Source: National Museum Wales (2 June 2006)