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nigelswift N
nigelswift May 28, 2005 11:10:45
Replying to nigelswift

In summary, my amateur ill-informed fear is that the Committee has already been persuaded along a particular route - vast disruption and cost, but lots of research fun - without the least reference to the public and on the basis of an admitted incomplete knowledge of the facts relating to ANY of the options.

The British Archaeology articles reeked of a research agenda, even to the extent of "favourable" presentation of figures. So does much other material and testimony we have obtained.

As a simple layman I fear our monument is to be annexed by those with a vested interest in their own research agenda. Either I'm right or wrong. Please read the minutes and decide. Is a tunnel necessary? Is EH skint? Is there evidence we might end up with a privately financed walk through as the price for a few people achieving their research ambitions?

I'll be delighted to be shown, not told, I'm entirely wrong.

V VenerableBottyBurp
VenerableBottyBurp May 28, 2005 12:39:55
Replying to nigelswift

It is grouting being summarily dismissed that is the big clue to what is going on here. I personally do not think that grouting as things stand is the best solution (pun unintended), but it should not be dismissed until all the facts are known. Based on the knowledge we have at present, grouting, whilst undoubtedly requiring addition holes drilled into a flank that are undesirable, is surely and obviously less of a risk than attempting to dig out the tunnels ?

My own would differ from Nigel's opinion in one respect, in that I cannot fully pin the move down to a research agenda. There are those that are rubbing their egos with glee at the prospect I suspect, but I think the majority are good honest people who simply want to do right after so many wrongs have been inflicted on Silbury by archaeologists. This is more compulsive and persuasive than gaining a name for oneself, and it is this driving the suggestion the tunnels have to be redug.

I want to stop this re-dig and would like to know if there was ultimately a collapse of the voids how much surface area would be lost and estimate regarding what archaeology could be recovered form that surface area beforehand ? Silbury could be monitored for up to ten years to see what is happening, but actually I don't see them going for it.

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