English Heritage unveil new facilities at Grime's Graves

English Heritage has opened a new entrance building and exhibition at Grime's Graves, near Thetford.

The site features a complex of prehistoric flint mines dug 4,500 years ago and is the country's oldest human-made underground area.

The new entrance provides access to this subterranean world, taking visitors 30ft into one of the shafts, known as Pit 1.

Meanwhile, the new exhibition showcases previously unseen artefacts including flint tools, axes, sickles and knives, which tell the story of those who created the site.

Experts have described Grime's Graves -  first named Grim’s Graves by the Anglo-Saxons, who believed it was the burial place of the god Woden/Grim –  as an ancient industrial hub, the Neolithic equivalent of Yorkshire’s cotton mills, or South Wales’ steelworks.

Underground at Grime's Graves (Image: English Heritage)

Above the ground at Grime's Graves (Image: English Heritage)

An illustration of the lunar landscape left after the flint mines (Image: English Heritage)

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Miners began using tools made from deer antlers to carve out a labyrinth of tunnels across 430 mine shafts, some up to 42ft deep, around 2500 BC, about the time many of the stones at Stonehenge were first raised.

They were excavating the high value, jet-black flint which was formed millions of years ago by the debris of sea creatures on what was then an ocean bed.

Described as the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of Neolithic life, flint was sought after for its versatility and durability, as well as perhaps spiritual value, and was used to fashion tools, weapons, and ceremonial objects.

The flint at Grime’s Graves was of such good quality that it would have been used for fine, specialised tools, and a giant hunk of flint possibly from the area has even been found as far away as Avebury, Wiltshire.

One of the flint mines (Image: English Heritage)The mines date back nearly 4,500 years (Image: English Heritage)

Jennifer Wexler, an historian from English Heritage, said: “What makes Grime’s Graves such a special place is that there are still so many secrets to be unlocked.

"It was not until 1868-70, when one of the pits was excavated, that this was even identified as a Neolithic flint mine.

"To this day, most of the over 400 pits remain untouched and geophysical surveys suggest that the mines covered a much greater area, so we are getting a tantalising glimpse into place full of hidden mystery.

"What I find remarkable is the deep understanding the miners had of their environment. The mines are a feat of great engineering skill, showing sophisticated geological knowledge of the earth. 

"The site was in use at the same time that Neolithic people were transforming their world on a massive scale and building impressive monuments across the British Isles, such as Stonehenge and Avebury.

Grimes Graves is in Lynford just north of Thetford and Brandon (Image: English Heritage)One of the flint mines (Image: English Heritage)

An illustration of how the ancient mines would function (Image: English Heritage)

"It’s brilliant that visitors will be able to see a few of the remarkable objects we have recently excavated in our new exhibition and then descend deep underground to have this totally otherworldly experience.”

Phil Harding, the archaeologist and Time Team expert who voices Grime’s Graves new audio guide, said: ‘’There’s a big part of my life at Grimes Graves; I spent five happy summers in the 1970s discovering its wonderful archaeology.

"I hope that what we learnt, some of which has been incorporated in the new improved facilities, can help visitors to understand the site better and appreciate what is not just a magical place but a testament to the skills of the Neolithic civil engineers.”

Grime’s Graves opens to the public on Saturday 27 April.