Re: Hang on Hang on ! | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Silbury Hill 180

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When Silbury is tunnelled

VenerableBottyBurp Jun 1, 2005 23:46:30

Replying to Jo-anne

Sorry, had a bit of a delay.

I obviously wasn't that clear - there is no imminent danger of collapse but two things are happenning. One is that the voids above the tunnels are perhaps making their way gradually towards the surface at a very slow pace. If this is happening archaeology is redeposited out of context in a lower position and perhaps broken up and lost - and although this is only a small area it could in very simplistic terms lead to a trench appearing on the surface. The second thing that is happenning is that material underneath Silbury has been damaged by air and water and will be lost unless they go in and get it.

I expect this is clear as chalk

VBB

Littlestone Jun 2, 2005 00:40:32

Replying to VenerableBottyBurp

Very clear VBB but my feeble old mind is beginning to clog up as information about Silbury, "...is redeposited out of context in a lower position..." I fear I live in a world too simple for my own good and so will bid you all good night with the following prayer to Silbury, Thornborough and all those other places so dear to us...

Unbounded freedom ruled the scene
Nor fence of ownership crept in between
To hide the prospect of the following eye;
Its only bondage was the circling sky.

John Clare (1793-1864)

Jo-anne Jun 2, 2005 00:50:35

Replying to VenerableBottyBurp

"I expect this is clear as chalk "
VBB

Yes, thanks :)

BrigantesNation Jun 2, 2005 10:00:17

Replying to VenerableBottyBurp

One thing VBB, the air and moisure getting tro some parts of the Neolithic surface is down to the failed tunnels and if these were simply fixed the archaeology would be sealed again. This fact means that simply expanding the existing tunnels as part of a repair stratefgy is unlikely to find any decent evidence - causing the archaeologists to want an even larger hollow to be made - a dangerous thing in my opinion.

It should also be said that EH don't seem to think the archaeology is in much danger and I would suggest that only a proportion will have been exposed to air and water, and this exposure is directly down to EH's poor management of the hill for the last four years - so how can they we trusted to get what will be Silbury's biggest intervention ever right?

Big Fat Green One Jun 2, 2005 21:22:12

Replying to VenerableBottyBurp

Seems to be a toss up between preservation and archaeology. If the hill is buggered and is going to colapse completely, why not let an archaeology team take it apart and let a group like the Stonehengineers build a new one. Ok, it's not the same but we would get to know what goes on inside and it would look the same. Both Grounforce and Timeteam could do it in six days!

BFGO