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Stonehenge and its Environs

Rocks?

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nigelswift N
nigelswift Jul 10, 2006 21:14:29
Replying to Littlestone

"People don't seem to have worked out the parameters of good behaviour for these places yet."

I think that's the crux. The same people who let their kids climb on megaliths don't let them do the same on public statues.

So whose fault is this perception gap? Ours partly, and the education system for not stressing the cultural importance of prehistoric stuff. Mind you, a few more signs would help. No-one puts a toe on the lawn round Warwick Castle as they're requested not to every ten yards.

"We can't afford to put up a sign at every stone circle" whine the Quango. (For the cost of the Stonehenge Visitors Centre you could, £60,000 on each one, gold plated).

(You two are very grumpy. Me, I have senior passion.)

L Littlestone
Littlestone Jul 11, 2006 06:58:47
Replying to nigelswift

So whose fault is this perception gap? Ours partly, and the education system for not stressing the cultural importance of prehistoric stuff. Mind you, a few more signs would help. No-one puts a toe on the lawn round Warwick Castle as they're requested not to every ten yards.
Absolutely (though we're back to the 'sign or not to sign' debate). Personally I'm very pro-sign. The general disappearance of dog poo from our streets is due to a campaign of signing and poo boxes. Pity the same can't be said for litter. Round here you'll go a fair way before seeing a 'don't litter' sign - and the litterlouts are mainly kids and younger people (which supports your statement that the education system is not stressing the problem at school).

So what about ancient sites? If the quangos won't put up signs maybe we should. Nothing to stop us getting a laminator and leaving signs at our favourite places. The signs might not last very long and will probably get blown or taken away but it's better than doing nothing. What does the sign say? Up to individuals I guess but how about something like -

This is an Ancient and Sacred Site. Please respect it by not climbing on it or damaging it in any way. If you make offerings here please take them away with you when you leave

B BuckyE
BuckyE Jul 14, 2006 04:30:01
Replying to nigelswift

Most of the problem is that people see old rocks, know the things have been there forever--they have no real concept of how long, just forever--and assume they're indestructible. How are you going to hurt a rock? In their minds it's like trying to hurt a mountain by kicking it, or break the air by hitting it with a stick.