Ancient sites: Protect or Use?

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Mirla M
Mirla Jun 26, 2007 11:26:20
Replying to Mirla

Wow, some varied opinions here!
i have read your messages and comments closely and i have thought about the very intelligent points that have been made. i have learnt loads from them, and am glad to find that people with different beliefs have been included in the attemp to protect the sites.

I hope that no-one got the wrong idea, I am not saying that theses sites should not be protected and kept in good condition. i am all in favour for this as i hope that they will be there for many more generations to enjoy and to feel a conection with the past.
As to keeping sites tidy for visitors this is also fair enough. i wouldnt want to visit if they were messy as this would destroy the atmosphere.

As to My point as to "What they were used for" that was meant in a more symbolic way.
As far as Archeaological survey and excavation can conclude many sites were not defensive, settlement nor agricultural. All through history there has been a respect for the dead and in many of the sites in question have relationship to burial, this helps to explain the belief systems of the past.
The sites not directly related to Death and Burial are harder to interpret, but evidence shows that they were used in other ways.
The relevence of this is that these places are still used in a respectful way in the practice of a belief system.

thanks for you're views, they are very helpful to me in the development of my understanding a more personal view on Archeaeology!
Cheers
Mirla!

D doktoratomik
doktoratomik Jun 26, 2007 14:15:35
Replying to Mirla

It does raise the interesting question of the degree to which these sites should be pickled and preserved, or maintained in a tradition of continuing use. Which in turn, goes hand-in-hand with the issue of restoration. Who would suggest that Avebury should be closed to public access to prevent erosion, for example? And who would suggest that none of the Dartmoor circles (or Wayland's Smithy, or Stonehenge....) should have been restored? Our interaction with these sites is complex, and the archaeological case for preserving them as we find them is compelling, but not conclusive.