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We may not know the primary purpose of Silbury Hill or Stonehenge, however, we do know they were constructed by prehistoric people. We have the evidence.

This site (TMA) is exclusively concerned with the human prehistory of the British Isles (that's right, isn't it?) and there are clear guidelines as to what should be added - and what should not. I just happen to agree with the guidelines.

Of course, water and its sources was of great significance to prehistoric man, as it always has been and probably always will be. If there is evidence of a site being used in prehistory - whatever the site may be - then I presume that that site should appear here. If you can come up with a strong case for adding a site here, even without clear evidence, then you should set out your argument.

I've put a photo of a waterfall on here:

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/16964

because I believe it to be of significance to the siting of the cairn under which's name I've put the photo.

From time to time people appear on here suggesting that other types of site should be incorporated. I can recall Roman, Egyptian and holy wells being mentioned. I like the purity of TMA. I see it (TMA) as the undisputed, best website solely concerned with the evidence of human prehistory in the British Isles and hope that it continues as such. The Megalithic Portal accepts holy wells and crosses up to the Norman Conquest and in my eyes has become diminished by doing so, although I still visit and contribute: prehistoric sites.

I'm just another user of this site and am only setting out the facts as I see them. If I'm wrong then I'll happily be corrected.

:o)

Baz

Hmm...

Succinctly put, my friend, and I have to say that I agree with you. To a certain extent... Although the addition of such sites might encourage further investigation into the actual age and use of such places by those more knowledgeable than myself. I would be happy to remove all and any sites that anyone can prove without a doubt that they <i>weren't</i> used by prehistoric man.

Hmm...

Well (haha), I have 2 of my sites which I will to remove (as much as I hate the removal of sites here!) as I feel these have the least going for them in the investigation stakes. The water has long since dried up in one of them anyway and it seems to be currently in use as a litter bin, and they've both been heavily "modernised" (many many years ago, granted!). T'other has had a beautifully carved wooden door nailed shut over it so will leave no chance of exploration! <a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/4094">St Caratocus' Holy Well</a>, and <a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/4095">St Ambrew's Holy Well</a>...

Any more, let me know and I'll see what I can dig up (so to speak) about the (pre)history of them.

Does anyone know how to delete sites?

After re-reading this, I will leave it unedited, but am sure it sounds a bit narkier than it's meant to! Sorry - had a crap nights' sleep!

G x

I too cherish the 'purity' of TMA, but it's not as pure as we all think. We have Cornish crosses, ogham stones, Sutton Hoo!, Iron Age stone forts, brochs, souterrains, tree chimneys (they have to go surely?) ... there's quite a list of stuff that breaks the guidelines, but most of the breaks are fuzzy.

I remember a comment by McG a while back about some of them (was it brochs or souterrains?) where Julian was asked what he wanted to do. They stayed - the new book does stretch the time-frame of TMA quite a bit, but it does remain pagan. This, rather than 'pre-historic' is the key to TMA I think (just my thoughts - not set in stone and enforced by a collie :-).

The question with wells is - why were they Christianised? They're hardly churches are they? It doesn't fit that the early Christian missionaries should come into the west and suddenly make wells holy or sacred - unless they were simply handy as baptismal fonts. It seems more likely (or at least equally likely) that the worship of water at springs and wells was so entrenched at the time of their arrival that they had to absorb them into the new religion.