Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia
The BP exhibition
14 September 2017 – 14 January 2018
Live audio described tours with handling session (dates below)
Saturday 7 October 16.00-18.15
Thursday 16 November 16.00-18.15
2,500 years ago groups of formidable warriors roamed the vast open plains of Siberia. Feared, loathed, admired – but over time forgotten… Until now.
This major exhibition explores the story of the Scythians – nomadic tribes and masters of mounted warfare, who flourished between 800 and 200 BC. Their encounters with the Greeks, Assyrians and Persians were written into history but for centuries all trace of their culture was lost – buried beneath the ice. Many of the objects in this stunning exhibition are on loan from the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.
If you would like to know more about who the Scythians were – listen to this introduction by exhibition curator St John Simpson: https://soundcloud.com/britishmuseum/who-were-the-scythians
Events for blind and partially sighted people
Live audio described tours with handling session (dates below)
Led by exhibition curator Chloe Leighton and VocalEyes audio describer Lonny Evans, these tours will explore highlights of the exhibition. Tours are accompanied by a handling session.
£13 exhibition entry. Members free. A disabled person’s assistant is free.
Tickets are limited and booking is essential, please email access@britishmuseum.org or phone +44 (0)20 7323 8971.
Saturday 7 October 16.00-18.15
Thursday 16 November 16.00-18.15
Please note, there will be no recorded audio description for this exhibition.
Resources for blind and partially sighted people
– Large print descriptions with images
A book containing a self-led descriptive tour for partially sighted visitors is available at the start of the exhibiton. It contains descriptions of ten objects selected from the exhibition, each with a simplified black and white diagram. Key features in the diagrams are labelled. A tactile version of the images with labels in Braille is also available. Objects that are described in the book have an eye symbol on the object label.
– Hands on desk
Visitors can handle objects connected to the exhibition on the Hands on desk open daily from 11.00-16.00 in the exhibition foyer.
– Large print exhibition text
Exhibition text is available in 22 point, split across two books – one at the start and one two thirds of the way through the exhibition.
– PDF or HTML exhibition text
Once the exhibition opens, you will be able to access exhibition text as a PDF or HTML on the website. If you use HTML you can save the webpage to your device before your visit and, using your device’s accessibility settings, adapt the font size and colour contrast to your requirements or use with a screen reader.
Do get in touch to make a booking for one of the live audio described tours, or if you have any further questions.
Best wishes. Selene
Selene Burn
Access and Equality Manager
Learning and National Partnerships
T (UK +44) 0207 323 8971
The British Museum
Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
Please note, I work here on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
