Alexander Keiller Museum

Type: Museum

Details the history of the stone circle at Avebury, particularly in regard to the archaeological excavations that have taken place there. Founded in 1938, the museum lies just outside the largest stone circle in the British Isles, at Avebury henge. The main displays are in a small 17th century stables and an associatated permanent exhibition occupies a nearby 17th century thatched threshing barn. The museum's founder, Alexander Keiller, excavated parts of the henge monument and associated avenue of standing stones in the 1930s and re-erected many fallen and buried stones.

The collection is primarily archaeological and mainly of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age date, with a smaller component of Anglo-Saxon and later material. It includes a large excavation archive from excavations in the 1920s and 1930s. A rare early 20th century motor car is also displayed: a Sizaire Berwick which belonged to Alexander Keiller and the collection includes much Keiller correspondence. The museum library houses an extensive collection of archaeological publications and is open by appointment.