HISTORIC treasures from across the Wessex region will be going on display at the Dorset County Museum as part of a new partnership project.

The Wessex Museums Partnership will see five museums working together over the next 12 months to share the story of Wessex in the wider world.

The initiative will see the Dorset County Museum, Poole Museum, the Russel Cotes Gallery and Museum, the Salisbury Museum and Wiltshire Museums showcase artefacts from their own collections to the other partner museums.

A spokesman for the Dorset County Museum said: "Wessex has a rich history connecting the region to countries around the world.

"Our links to Europe and Asia date back to prehistory.

"An eventful maritime history connects our ports to North America and beyond.

"Local collectors brought back to Wessex exotic treasures from their journeys of discovery around the world.

"The story of Wessex is a truly global one."

The Dorset County Museum says it is pleased to announce that it will be displaying artefacts from Wiltshire Museums until November 23 as part of the Wessex Museums Spotlight Tour.

These objects are from a burial of an important Bronze Age woman discovered close to Stonehenge.

Contained within her grave were objects that showed her power and authority.

Gold, amber and jet beads and pendants were discovered with her remains.

The most unusual item is a jet pendant in the shape of a double-headed axe, a stone weapon usually found in the north of England and Scotland.

For further information about the Spotlight Tour and other events through Wessex Museums Partnership follow the partnership on Facebook at facebook.com/wessexmuseums and Twitter @wessexmuseums