In 2009 archaeologists found 51 decapitated skeletons dating back to the late Saxon period on a construction site in Dorset. Photograph: Dorset County Council/PA
Posted on 06/30/2011 3:43:20 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Archaeologists have condemned a Tory council leader's threat to dismantle all archaeological controls on development, saying that the regulations are necessary to protect the UK's unique national heritage.
Alan Melton, leader of Fenland District Council, dismissed opponents of development as "bunny huggers" in a speech last week. Archaeologists fear his views reflect a national threat to all heritage protection as a result of the government's determination to simplify the planning process to encourage development.
The principle that developers must pay for archaeological excavation -- before construction work destroys sites -- has led to a string of major discoveries in the past 20 years, including the "Prince of Prittlewell" (a royal Saxon grave on the outskirts of Southend), a pit full of decapitated skeletons that may have been victims of a Viking massacre in Dorset, the first purpose-built Tudor theatre in London, and a 5,000-year-old enclosure under Heathrow's Terminal 5...
Dr Tony Pollard, director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow, reflected the anxieties of many: "My worry as someone far away from the Fens -- though I fully appreciate their archaeological importance -- is that this could mark the thin end of the wedge, with the recession being used as an excuse to trash our national archaeological heritage in the name of economic recovery."
...Melton emailed Conservative party colleagues to say: "I don't tweet, but what a wonderful day. To be attacked by bunny huggers, historic lefties, and the vested interested professional classes. Eric Pickles will be extremely proud of me."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
In 2009 archaeologists found 51 decapitated skeletons dating back to the late Saxon period on a construction site in Dorset. Photograph: Dorset County Council/PA
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*smiles*...”bunny huggers”
I’m sure the “all archaeaology is graverobbing” contingent will be here soon, unable to explain how it’s okay to chuck out human bones and whatnot to build a foundation. :’)
..only if the foundation is for an abortion clinic or housing for illegals ...w/sauna.
Similarly, some things are worthless, even if they are old.
“But...who will protect the finds at Hobbs End?”
I got the impression that they did a pretty good job of protecting themselves.
I have to believe that the economy of today, with the immediacy of bad individual consequences, is at least as important as the historical past. A site like this is likely to stop all construction for decades while archeologists dust, photograph and mark each bone. Then, someone will say it’s a sacred spot and the lawsuits start.
I know a developer who was building on hyper expensive downtown lots that had been first slave quarters, then owned by blacks after the Civil War. At a party he pointed over to adjacent lot where he’d put up a house selling for 1.8 million dollars. He said, “The grader uncovered a bunch of tombstones.” “What did you do,” I asked. “Covered them back up. Then during the next storm I made them disappear.”
Now there was some cool historical past. But had he let it be known, the local hysterical society would have prevented him from building and one failed 1.8 million dollar project can kill a company. The local newspaper likes to involve itself and whip up the black/white issues too, so there would have been protesters if he kept building. (The historical society and the newspaper don’t care if a builder goes bankrupt.)
I recommend that archaeology compromise. With modern technology they should be able to whip in, take radar sightings, build a 3-D map, then rapidly photograph, mark and remove everything. Ultimately, archaeology and our understanding of history will be greatly improved over the old techniques. And, the people of today won’t have to suffer because of what happened many yesterday’s ago.
What happens in 100 years when everywhere we dip a shovel turns up the human past? Do we stop building everything and live like the French, camped in structures that should have been torn down and rebuilt centuries ago?
Regarding my earlier post about how history intruded on the present.
A little hysterical society trivia. I know of a man who owned a house in the hysterical district in Alabama. His house was on the hysterical registry. He wanted to make the house more livable and had an architect draw up plans to hide modern conveniences like air-conditioning behind a wide anti-bellum style porch that would have been period correct for the house. The hysterical society refused, saying it had to remain exactly as it was. So, he studied the rules and there was nothing about what color he could or could not paint it. So, he hired a painter and had it painted hurt-your-eyes purple with big yellow circles. When the society complained, he pointed out the rules. They approved his original proposal and he painted the whole thing Colonial White.
Given that you can’t seem to put up a new building in the UK without hitting an old site, the Tory is right. The developer has to be able to decide if he wants the site investigated, or the archaeologists need to compensate the developer for the disruption of his project.
I’m sure Dr. Quartermass would agree.
Archaeological "graverobbing" bad; developer looting/vandalism/desecration good!
On the other hand, some major discoveries have been made as a result.
What you said! The problem(?) of course is that the cause-du-jour crowd felt it necessary to get government involved in their bunny/tree/whale/farting darter/skinky lizard/bone hugging. NOBODY can meddle like government can meddle. Governments nowadays are more than happy to oblige. LOTS of free lunches from the bunny/tree/whale/farting darter/skinky lizard/bone hugging crowd. Not to mention the potential for some shake downs of developers/producers. MORE free lunches and donations to other worthy causes; like reelection campaigns, etc.
The solution??? Have the bunny/tree/whale/farting darter/skinky lizard/bone hugging crowd put their money where their mouth is. Once they have some skin in the game it might be amazing how quickly they are able to determine if a site has any true historical value; or if it's just an old pile of bones.
In any case, I can't see where government has any business poking their nose into something they know little about. But then, that's what government does...
The big show-stopper here is NAGPRA.
Is that in Hobbit Town?
Here in Phoenix there are tons of apartments that have been built that are empty.
The developers anticipated making themselves money and built more apartments then are needed for the town. I can’t see why there should be so much building all the time, ripping down woods and old areas of town and putting up new square apartments everywhere, so someone can get rich. Let a bunch of foreigners in to that end, sickening.
Personally, I’m with the bunny huggers.
I’m with the bunny huggers, but when there are surplus apartments, it isn’t because the gov’t planned it that way — in a gov’t managed society, there are too few, and they suck — it’s because there’s no collusion by those who built it speculatively. So, I’m with them too. :’)
“I’m with the bunny huggers, but when there are surplus apartments, it isn’t because the gov’t planned it that way — in a gov’t managed society, there are too few, and they suck — it’s because there’s no collusion by those who built it speculatively. So, I’m with them too. :’)”
Point well taken, need some planning out there.
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