Anger at quarry threatens prehistoric site

[mol]

A TV archaeologist criticised a county council today over the destruction of the landscape around one of Britain’s top prehistoric sites.

Thornborough Henges, near Ripon, has the greatest concentration of late Neolithic and early Bronze Age sites in the country.

It represents the largest prehistoric quarrying operation in Britain and construction firm Tarmac has proposed extending its activities in the area.

Dr Mark Horton, a presenter on the BBC’s Time Flyers programme, criticised North Yorkshire County Council over the destruction of the landscape around the site.

Dr Horton, head of archaeology at the University of Bristol, said: “I’ve been appalled by what I’ve seen at Thornborough. Archaeological sites like this should be protected and plans such as these shouldn’t even be proposed.

MOre:
http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2102525

[I, Brian]

That is extremely sad - but also extremely common. As someone living in East Yorkshire, I have only just begun a discovery of the local archaeology and history - by that meaning the little things that the larger books don't offer comment upon. However, it seems that in archaeological terms anything but the most glorious ruins are usually consigned to destruction - either by ploughing or development. I was quite astonished to learn only a fortnight ago that an area of housing estate I used to play on was built upon the site of a fortified farmhouse, that was occupied at varying stages of development from at least the Roman to Mediaeval period. Now it rests under rows of council housing. Unfortunately, it's very common. There's a terrible hypocrisy that we value other nation's treasures, yet so complacently disregard our own.

[Venutius]

It is very, very sad. But it ain't gonna happen here no more, no more no more no mORE!!!

That's if Friends of Thornborough have anything to do with it!

Our meeting last night had 250 attendees! Thanks to MW (and others) our online petition has sailed through the 1K mark and is now close to 1,250. Add to this our paper petition which has 2,500 signatures.

What we need now is letters to MP's and national press. Those of you who watched Time Flyers this week (BBC2UK) should have a much better idea of how important this site is.

Come on chaps! it's time to rattle some cages.

They say that a letter to an MP is worth 100 signatures on a petition.

If you want to get involved, email me, I'm compiling a list of points that you might like to make.

George

info@friendsofthornborough.org