Stonehenge & Environs

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GLADMAN G
GLADMAN Nov 4, 2017 09:39:49
Replying to costaexpress

One does get the feeling, however, that Stonehenge gets all this attention, research etc precisely because it is an easy option for archaeologists?

Carol makes a fundamental point for me... who's making it their labour of love to research, investigate... PROTECT... those sites upon cold, windy hillsides in the middle of nowhere, those sites left to the whims of landowners whether they are trampled to pieces by livestock or not?

For me it is these places where the real human story of our ancestors was played out. Not a showpiece like Stonehenge where, presumably, people would have come to see and be seen... in other words adopt a false persona? But why bother when Stonehenge is such an easy commute to the office.. when you can simply jump everybody else's train?

S Sanctuary
Sanctuary Nov 4, 2017 09:43:38
Replying to GLADMAN

GLADMAN wrote:
One does get the feeling, however, that Stonehenge gets all this attention, research etc precisely because it is an easy option for archaeologists?

Carol makes a fundamental point for me... who's making it their labour of love to research, investigate... PROTECT... those sites upon cold, windy hillsides in the middle of nowhere, those sites left to the whims of landowners whether they are trampled to pieces by livestock or not?

For me it is these places where the real human story of our ancestors was played out. Not a showpiece like Stonehenge where, presumably, people would have come to see and be seen... in other words adopt a false persona? But why bother when Stonehenge is such an easy commute to the office.. when you can simply jump everybody else's train?

Spot on Gladders!

T thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 4, 2017 11:33:36
Replying to GLADMAN

You've said what I was going to.

No disputing what Smithone has said, but the tone as a first time poster here isn't exactly one that's going to engage anyone positively.

The real damage to our heritage is happening across the country, on farms, hills and moors, by farmers and flytippers, while the heritage bodies navel gaze and while a thousand more instantly refutable papers get written about Stonehenge.

And in the meantime the oh-so-precious World Heritage site suffers the indignity of a hugely destructive tunnel (never mind a bootprint on a Mesolithic layer) to which much of the caring archaeo community says nothing and looks the other way for fear of rocking the funding gravy boat.

I also think maybe there would be a lot more interest and understanding from the wider public if the archaeo community tried to engage rather than preach or condescend to people who are on the same side (in theory). Most of the sites we visit haven't seen an archaeologist in decades - too busy getting grants to write more pet theories about Stonehenge.