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3D model of Stonehenge created through Camosun's Makerspace

, a collaboration between the college and the museum, explores burial traditions, landscapes of the dead, and the continuing human quest to make sense of mortality.

The Royal BC Museum and AV��Դ invite the public to join this insightful exploration.

• When: Saturday, Nov. 30, 1-3pm
• Where: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria

Stonehenge, one of the world's most enigmatic monuments, serves as the exhibit's focal point. While its purpose remains a mystery, evidence suggests it was a cemetery for centuries. Through interactive booths and engaging discussions, 11 groups of Camosun students will guide visitors beyond the iconic stones of Stonehenge, inviting them to reflect on timeless questions about death, rituals, memory, and the enduring bonds between the living and the dead.

This pop-up exhibit is the brainchild of Nicole Kilburn, instructor of Camosun's Anthropology of Death course.

As Kilburn explains, "Stonehenge captures the imagination because it embodies a universal human concern - dealing with death and the afterlife. By drawing parallels between Stonehenge and better-documented death practices from around the world, students help demystify this ancient wonder. In doing so, they highlight the ways societies have always sought to honour the dead, ensure ancestral memory, and navigate the transition between life and death."

Stonehenge captures the imagination because it embodies a universal human concern - dealing with death and the afterlife. By drawing parallels between Stonehenge and better-documented death practices from around the world, students help demystify this ancient wonder. In doing so, they highlight the ways societies have always sought to honour the dead, ensure ancestral memory, and navigate the transition between life and death.

- Nicole Kilburn, Instructor, Anthropology of Death 

Since its inception in 2018, Kilburn's course has thrived on innovative experiential learning opportunities, and this museum collaboration exemplifies that approach. By applying theoretical concepts to a tangible, widely recognized site like Stonehenge, students gain a deeper understanding of complex anthropological ideas while developing essential skills in research, communication, and public engagement.

“The Royal BC Museum has been a phenomenal partner in bringing this vision to life,” Kilburn notes. "I am so appreciative and honoured that we can have this kind of relationship because we spend a lot of time complementing one another. This reciprocal partnership exemplifies the best of experiential education, where learning transcends the classroom and takes root in the community."

Kim Gough, Learning Program Developer at the Royal BC Museum, echoes Kilburn's sentiments.

“Through our enriching partnership with AV��Դ, the Learning and Engagement department at the Royal BC Museum is able to deepen its community impact by offering students hands-on learning experiences while simultaneously expanding our public program offerings,” says Kim. “Together, we are fostering a vibrant, dynamic exchange of knowledge. The students gain a real audience for their projects and ideas and we benefit from their research and enthusiasm.”   

Learn more about Anthropology of Death and other anthropology courses at camosun.ca/anthropology.