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moss M
moss Jun 5, 2007 06:58:06
Replying to slumpystones

Turned up an old HMSO 1971 leaflet yesterday on Stonehenge and Avebury, written by Atkinson to quote;-

"the construction of the mound shows an almost obsessive concern for stability.... and they show (features) that the builders of Silbury had a remarkable empirical knowledge of civil engineering, which they applied so effectively that the shape of the mound has hardly changed at all since it was built"....

Its wierd really, all the damage done to Silbury, tearing its heart out to find goodness knows what, that we still at the end have to leave a 'time capsule' to mark the fact that 'we've been here' - a relict of 2007 ;) . We still can't after all these years of civilisation help but leave our territorial mark or scat to determine ownership...

N nigelswift
nigelswift Jun 5, 2007 08:05:31
Replying to moss

"We still can't after all these years of civilisation help but leave our territorial mark or scat to determine ownership..."

Nor, it seems, do we learn that posterity may not share our certainties about our "gesture" in leaving a time capsule. This wouldn't be the first capsule left in Silbury. Dean Merewether's one, with its Christian tracts, is now viewed with disdain (although it did at least have the virtue of containing an apology for the intrusion, which is more than is being planned here, I bet). EH must have astounding prescience to be so sure that their capsule will be seen as appropriate by the future.

And what happened to the EH Silbury Hill Project Board's Conservation Principle No. 1, laid down at the start in 2001 - "Minimum intervention"?

Eh, EH?

L Littlestone
Littlestone Jun 5, 2007 10:55:24
Replying to moss

Its wierd really, all the damage done to Silbury, tearing its heart out to find goodness knows what, that we still at the end have to leave a 'time capsule' to mark the fact that 'we've been here' - a relict of 2007 ;) . We still can't after all these years of civilisation help but leave our territorial mark or scat to determine ownership...
Three weeks into their 'Conservation Project' and English Heritage have shown the world half a dozen miserable photographs, no film clips, and no questions from the public (nor answers on their Ask the Experts information board). That speaks for itself - an ongoing combination of secrecy and incompetence.

Now talk of a time capsule (which by its very nature would be placed in Silbury so that future generations can dig it out again!). English Heritage seem to be oblivious to the fact that the world is watching them and they have a duty to keep the world properly informed of their activities at Silbury; they also have a duty to adhere strictly to internationally accepted conservation principles (not just the Burra Charter) as well as their own which states, English Heritage Silbury Project Board's Conservation Principle No.1) Minimum intervention.

* http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/burracharter.html