AMESBURY’S remarkable prehistoric past is being brought to life in steel with the unveiling of a striking new aurochs bench in the town centre.

The unique installation, created by local artist Dan North, will be officially revealed on Friday (May 1) at 11am on the corner of Salisbury Street and Church Street.

Residents are invited to attend the grand reveal and meet the maker, as well as volunteers from Amesbury History Centre, which is just around the corner.

Volunteers helped Dan create the aurochs bench. (Picture: Amesbury History Centre)

Commissioned by the centre, the bench celebrates the ancient aurochs – a now-extinct wild cattle species that once roamed the area thousands of years ago.

The ambitious project marks Dan’s largest piece to date.

He said: “I’ve never made anything this big before. It took me 7 months”.

The design draws heavily on archaeological discoveries from Blick Mead, where more than 20 years of excavations have uncovered evidence of Mesolithic life in Amesbury.

Finds including bones, teeth and horns have helped experts understand the sheer scale of the aurochs, believed to have been up to three times larger than modern cattle.

These powerful animals played a crucial role in early human survival.

It is thought a single aurochs could have fed around 300 people, with every part used, from hide and sinew to bones and horns.

The bench has been shaped using an artist’s impression by Clare Moggridge, site artist at Blick Mead, helping to connect the artwork with the area’s deep-rooted history.

The project comes at an exciting time for the town, as Amesbury has submitted a bid to become the UK Town of Culture 2028 – a title that would further highlight its rich heritage and vibrant community.

The unveiling promises to be both a celebration and a chance to learn more about Amesbury’s ancient story, with organisers encouraging people to attend and discover the inspiration behind the impressive new addition.