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Interesting to read through the comments on this topic.
Some of the responses are pretty predictable (thou shalt not ... etc.) from those unable to comprehend any deeper aspects involved.
Others show a broader tolerance and wisdom that i find heartening.

The most ironic comments are from those who reveal an open distaste for any sign of human interaction or ongoing ritual activity at these ancient ritual sites. Instead wanting them kept looking a certain way to fit their own personal view of them. This I find bizarre.
The tone of their comments usually reveal the deeper prejudices lurking behind their argument, - that other peoples personal offerings and tokens, are ‘offensive’ and the constant reference to these items
as 'rubbish' 'crap' 'tat' and ‘detritus’ in order to devalue and obscure their intended purpose. A very cheap ploy to justify their negative views on ‘those sort of people’ who ‘dump’ this stuff.
Quite unpleasant really.

With regard to the original post, after many years and much reflection, my own approach is that i would not touch or remove anything that looks like an offering or token left by another person - whatever my personal feelings towards the object. Simply, i do not consider i have the right to interfere. Especially not knowing the motivation behind such an offering.

Tut tut ... Another site where ‘those sort’ of people have tied rags to a tree, In the belief that it might help them recover from an illness.
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/6458/clootie_well.html
get sharpening those axes.

I do still wonder what happened to the offending pottery cow left in the field at long Meg circle?

Alfrede

"my own approach is that i would not touch or remove anything that looks like an offering or token left by another person - whatever my personal feelings towards the object. Simply, i do not consider i have the right to interfere"

.... except with sites.

Alfrede wrote:
I do still wonder what happened to the offending pottery cow left in the field at long Meg circle?

Alfrede

It made £150 on Dickinson's Real Deal last week for a rambler who on one of his walks, "just found it lying there."

Alfrede wrote:
those unable to comprehend any deeper aspects involved.
Alfrede
I think that just because someone doesn't like offerings and consider them 'litter' doesn't mean that they are 'unable to comprehend.' I think that is a little insulting to be honest. If someone doesn't believe that these are spiritual sites they are not somehow less enlightened that others. It is just a difference of opinion. You are not arguing the issue but rather just attacking the people who disagree with you. Maybe a little more respect on both sides would help to solve the issue...there's always a middle ground.

(you need) broader tolerance ... (as you have) deeper prejudices ...(and) negative views ...
Our Prehistory belongs to all of us now and all our decendents in the future for as long as they walk the land. No-one has "The Absolute Right" to change it according to their perculiar forays into their inner self.

If people have the right to leave 20th century ritual artifacts in a place which has no link in time or space with their beliefs, then I most certainly have the right to remove said artifacts to return the site closer to how its original builders intended.