Tarmac chalks up more national heritage destruction
Brian Bolton | 03.11.2005 12:07 | Culture | Ecology | Social Struggles
Yesterdays news told us that Archaeologists have unearthed what is thought to be the largest Neolithic settlement in Britain in Northumberland. What nobody was saying was that the site will be quarried in just a few short months.
It seems only the best will do for Quarry company Tarmac, Readers already know that they have been destroying the most important ancient site in Yorkshire – the Thornborough Henges (see www.timewatch.org). But viewers of yesterdays BBC news might have missed that Tarmac are also quarrying Northumberland’s most important ancient site – Milfield.
Yesterdays news told us that Archaeologists have unearthed what is thought to be the largest Neolithic settlement in Britain.
English Heritage said: "To find the remains of so many buildings from the Neolithic period grouped together is incredibly important.”
Archaeological site director Dr Clive Waddington said: "This is one of the most important sites of its kind to be discovered."
What nobody was saying was that the site will be quarried in just a few short months, meaning there will be no opportunities for archaeologists to study this site in depth – the archaeology will have to be taken out in a matter of weeks – no going back to apply new research techniques.
They did not mention Tarmac’s statement “when we find a site of national significance on our quarry we preserve it in situ and keep the quarry equipment away”.
Neither did they mention UK government guidelines that demand such important remains be protected from development.
Milfield is Britain’s densest concentration of henges – 16 of them cluster round a small area of the Cheviot Hills. It is Northumberland’s most important ancient site and clearly, like Thornborough Tarmac think its important to destroy it.
It Tarmac destroying your heritage? Check out your local Tarmac Quarry and see what they are destroying on the quiet.
Yesterdays news told us that Archaeologists have unearthed what is thought to be the largest Neolithic settlement in Britain.
English Heritage said: "To find the remains of so many buildings from the Neolithic period grouped together is incredibly important.”
Archaeological site director Dr Clive Waddington said: "This is one of the most important sites of its kind to be discovered."
What nobody was saying was that the site will be quarried in just a few short months, meaning there will be no opportunities for archaeologists to study this site in depth – the archaeology will have to be taken out in a matter of weeks – no going back to apply new research techniques.
They did not mention Tarmac’s statement “when we find a site of national significance on our quarry we preserve it in situ and keep the quarry equipment away”.
Neither did they mention UK government guidelines that demand such important remains be protected from development.
Milfield is Britain’s densest concentration of henges – 16 of them cluster round a small area of the Cheviot Hills. It is Northumberland’s most important ancient site and clearly, like Thornborough Tarmac think its important to destroy it.
It Tarmac destroying your heritage? Check out your local Tarmac Quarry and see what they are destroying on the quiet.
Brian Bolton