Posted on 11/20/2001 9:49:22 AM PST by blam
Druids despair as Seahenge set for dry berth
November 19 2001 at 04:16PM
London - A Bronze Age timber circle dug up on a beach two years ago should not be returned to its original site, where it would be vulnerable to the forces of the North Sea, English Heritage said on Monday.
The 4 000-year-old structure, which became known as Seahenge, was found off the coast of Norfolk, north-east England, and removed despite prolonged protests by locals and Druid groups, who said the circle was a religious monument.
English Heritage, the preservation group that oversaw and financed the removal of the 54 oak posts which surrounded an upturned tree stump, said the prehistoric structure was in danger of being destroyed by the sea.
The organisation is talking with the timber circle's owner, le Strange Estate, and local groups about the chances of putting the structure on public display and will hold a public meeting on its recommendation later this month.
Three-dimensional laser scanning techniques are giving archeologists new insights into the circle, which has been dated to the spring of 2049 BC, when the trees were cut down to create the posts.
The research has so far indicated that the community which built the structure was more advanced and organised than previously believed.
"It is remarkable that this tiny community was able to lay hands on such a large number of tools only about 100 years after the knowledge of how to make bronze arrived in this country," said Francis Pryor, director of archaeology at Flag Fen Archaeological Center, where the scanning is being done.
English Heritage estimated it would take five years and cost £40 000 (about R550 000) to complete the conservation process. - Sapa-AP
I am a fair juror. Strict, but fair. I usually get excused by the defense attorney, one of the 3 free kicks. Unless they run out of free kicks before my name is called.
Sorry, gonna have to stick with one that's familiar with the concept of evidence! ;-)
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
|
|
GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution. |
|
|
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.