Re: feelings vs facts | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Silbury Hill 180

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Trespass on SSSI sites

nigelswift Sep 4, 2012 20:36:29

Replying to thesweetcheat

"there is a difference between the much-visited at-risk site and the little-visited places"

Yes exactly. And its the failure to recognise the dichotomy that has made consensus impossible as ettiquette on one can't be applied to the other and vice versa.

Accept the dichotomy and all becomes cushty. Most sites are for communing with the past, all TMA-like. But Stonehenge (through visitor numbers) and Silbury (through that and expert opinion it's easily damaged) are buggered for that purpose and always will be.h Im sure Mr Cope said something similar.

Having said that, Stonehenge shouldnt be avoided. You dont have to view it through fences and soon there wont be any and of course, you can go in after hours. Its a very worthwhile experience so long as you dont fall into the trap of cursing the crowds or expect "splendid isolation"...

thesweetcheat Sep 4, 2012 20:43:51

Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:

... its the failure to recognise the dichotomy that has made consensus impossible as ettiquette on one can't be applied to the other and vice versa.

Accept the dichotomy and all becomes cushty.

Yes. Exactly that, thanks Nigel.

[I'm conscious that this general agreement isn't addressing the concerns of those who feel that it is direspectful to set foot on any kind of funerary monument. As I said earlier, this isn't my view and I certainly intend no disrespect if I do so.]

scubi63 Sep 4, 2012 22:30:22

Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:

You dont have to view it through fences and soon there wont be any and of course, you can go in after hours. Its a very worthwhile experience so long as you dont fall into the trap of cursing the crowds or expect "splendid isolation"...

Having done the walk around Stonehenge 'outside the rope' a couple of times and being very disappointed, I did the 'before hours' visit a few years ago very close to the winter solstice. It was an icy cold morning but we were let in just as the sun was breaking the horizon and I must say it was a very moving experience for me. So much so I had trouble taking a steady shot with the camera.
You get 1 hour there before the let in joe public and the amazing thing was that most of the other 25 people who were there too left after about 30 minutes leaving a small group of us to stand and take in the place. Even the security guards kept their distance and didn't blink an eyelid at us touching the stones.
It was an amazing experience and really did change my view of this much (mostly justified) maligned monument.

:o)