Stone Age Discovery Box - Elmbridge Museum: Elmbridge Museum Website

850,000 BC

Humans reach Europe. The Paleolithic era begins.

450,000 BC

Humans settle in Britain

20,000 BC

The last Ice Age Period starts

2,500 BC

Stone Henge is built.

2,000 BC

Bronze Age

700 BC

Iron Age

See if you can guess what these items were used for. When you think you know, click on the pictures to find out more about them, then see if you can find them in your discovery box!

Bone needles Small bones could be sharpened to make needles. Thread was made of plant fibre, horsehair or even animal tendons!

Battle axe Battle axes were used as weapons however this battle axe has smooth edges, which suggests it was used for ceremonies and special occasions instead.

Arrowhead Arrowheads were made using a flint knapping technique. Arrows were mainly used for hunting, especially for catching food.

Tool grinder Tool grinders were used to grind or smooth the edges of prehistoric tools. This tool grinder has been well worn, creating the smooth hole in the centre of the stone.

Scraper Scrapers were used for scraping animal hides so they could be turned into material for clothes. They were also used to shape hard materials such as bone and wood.

Truncated blade Truncated blades were used liked knives. They had two edges; there was a sharp side for cutting and a blunt side for the holder to grip onto.

Hammer stone Hammer stones were used to make weapons for hunting and ceremonies. They could be hit against other stones, like a hammer, to create a sharp edge.

Pottery sherds Neolithic families would have used pots for household duties such as cooking, food storage and for carrying water. They also had ‘burial urns’ for the ashes of their loved ones.

Hand axe The hand axe had many uses. It could be thrown at prey whilst out hunting. It could also be used to prepare caught food and chop wood to create a fire.

A group of stone age people sitting around a fire

Which tools?

After a long day of hunting and gathering this group have gathered around the fire. They are preparing their tools for the next day.

Take a close look at this picture and see if you can spot all the tools they are using. Can you match them to the objects you have in the discovery box?

What kind of activities do you think they will be doing tomorrow?

Weybridge bucket

The Weybridge/Brooklands bucket was found during the construction of Brooklands Motor track, near the railway in 1907.

The bucket dates from the Bronze Age, and was made from metal sheets which were hammered and heated in order to make a curve. The handles were attached by metal rivets, and the bronze handles were twisted into a spiral.

The bucket matches others that have been made in a similar style in Venetia, North East Italy. The similarities in shape and design have led archaeologists to determine that the bucket found in Weybridge was a direct result of trade.

The bucket is 7.1 inches high and 7.9 inches wide, possibly used for transporting water or other goods back to a prehistoric dwelling. There is a suggestion that the bucket was intentionally buried in order to keep it safe, or to offer it as a gift to the Gods, as due to the intricate design it could have been worth a lot of money!

Teacher's Area

Stone Age Discovery Box Teacher's Notes

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Stone Age Discovery Box Inventory

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