Silbury Hill forum 180 room
Image by texlahoma
Silbury Hill

Silbury updates lock

close
more_vert
Littlestone L
Littlestone May 22, 2007 19:31:16
Replying to Littlestone

Can't believe I'm the only one to 'Ask the Experts' and get a reply from English Heritage.

Contrary to what EH say on their Ask the Experts page at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.17513 that, "We will post some of the questions here, together with answers from the archaeologists and engineers working on the project." nothing has so far appeared on that page. EH also say, "Please note, we cannot reply to every e-mail individually." Strange, that's exactly what they seem to be doing! It's the oldest ploy in book - secrecy.

May I suggest that anyone who does ask English Heritage a question and who does get a reply (and if that question and reply does not appear on the EH Ask the Expert page) that they consider posting it here so we can all see, openly, what is going on.

P Pete G
Pete G May 23, 2007 15:46:13
Replying to Littlestone

no thanks.
I'd rather keep my private correspondence private.

L Littlestone
Littlestone May 23, 2007 22:26:15
Replying to Littlestone

It's the oldest ploy in the book - secrecy.
However, "I have withheld nothing from my teachings. There is no secret teaching, no hidden meaning; everything has been taught openly and clearly."

Shakyamuni Buddha.

L Littlestone
Littlestone May 24, 2007 17:34:30
Replying to Littlestone

Q. 22-5-2007 'Atkinson/BBC Entrance'

One of the first principles of conservation is that nothing of the original object under conservation should either be taken away or added to. With that in mind, may we assume that the 1968 'Atkinson/BBC Entrance' with its appalling S logo will now be removed and that part of Silbury restored to its (as far as possible) original condition?

LS

A. 23-5-2007 'Atkinson/BBC Entrance'

"Dear LS

People hold differing views on whether the Atkinson entrance structure should be left or taken away, and there is a conservation-based argument for both positions.

Our original plan was to transport the door to the Alexander Keiller museum in Avebury and to retain the concrete lintel in situ, but grassed over.

We have revisited this plan and still feel that this is the approach that we will take, unless of course the concrete portal structure has to be removed for Health & Safety reasons.

Best regards from the Silbury Project team"


NB There is absolutely no conservation-based argument for the Atkinson entrance to remain.

L Littlestone
Littlestone May 31, 2007 20:23:17
Replying to Littlestone

Looks like English Heritage's experts are still out to lunch (or out of touch). Two weeks after their invitation to, Ask the Experts - zilch (as far as publication of questions and answers are concerned on their page here at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.17513 ) Now why is that? No questions? No, I've had personal replies back from them. Web design incompetence? Possibly (and that would be in keeping with EH's incompetent performance on the whole Silbury saga to date). Secrecy? Certainly. English Heritage's appalling record on releasing information to the public on its work at Silbury speaks for itself.