New MOOC unearths the secrets of Stonehenge

Five thousand years of Stonehenge’s history can now be unearthed by doing a fascinating new MOOC run by The University of Buckingham.

By doing the MOOC, which has no entry requirements, students will gain a better understanding of the celebrated monument.

More than 1,000 people have already signed up to the MOOC, which will enable students to evaluate responses to Stonehenge in art, literature, music and architecture and it will encourage them to think about what Stonehenge means to them and why it was built.

The University of Buckingham is working with iversity.org, which enables students to enjoy being part of a community of global learners.

University of Buckingham lecturer Dr Graeme Davis, who is leading the MOOC, said: “Stonehenge is one of the most iconic monuments in the world and it has captured the imagination of archaeologists, writers, musicians and artists, as well as the general public. Everyone has a view on how this enigmatic monument came to be erected and now there is an opportunity for people to explore 5,000 years of history and reach their own informed conclusions.”

Dr Graeme Davis is a historical linguist and medieval historian whose recent research revealed what is believed to be the oldest poem written about Stonehenge in Anglo-Saxon, dating from the mid eighth century.

Some research referred to in the MOOC has been carried out by University of Buckingham Archaeologist David Jacques, who led the dig which brought about the revelation that Amesbury is the oldest continually-occupied place in the country.

The course will take two hours per week for watching video lectures, completing quizzes and homework assignments and 14 hours in total to complete.

In October The University of Buckingham launched a research MA in Archaeology – Stonehenge: A Landscape Through Time – which began with a dig near to Stonehenge, led by David Jacques.

For more details of the MOOC and to register: iversity.org/en/courses/stonehenge.