Here's EH's statement about Mike Pitt's proposals in 2002 http://tech.dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/archaeology2/message/9309?threaded=1&var=1&p=1

Last I heard was Mike saying in 2009 it was still "on the drawing board".

For me, one maybe but a whole load of them no. As a compromise, one every 2 generations maybe, in step with improving technology. It's like saying lets open EKLB, we could only do that once and we'd be sure to destroy evidence that the future might have found. You wouldn't want that on your CV would you - posterity might dub you Stonekiller Roy!

(On the other hand, hurrah for Keiller who destoyed evidence but gave everyone huge pleasure)

Would it be out of the question to produce fibreglass replica stones to be placed over the horrible concrete markers?

They'd look better, they'd still mark the positions of the originals, they'd be cheap to produce, cost almost nothing to erect and wouldn't involve invading the archaeology so wouldn't need convoluted scheduled monument consent or expensive reseach.

I like the way it is just fine and so I will go along with maintaining the status quo.

Don't want to see Stonehenge future restored ether.

Personally, I don't see the point, regardless of the argument put forward for.

I'm with you Roy, even after reading through the entirety of the thread i can't see and reasonable reason why not to.Yeah we could wait forever for techniques to evolve but that way we'd never get anything done.

For the record i'd also open EKLB, you could cite preservation as the reason as there's no doubt the trees and badgers ARE damaging it, or we could wait and lose a whole load of knowledge.

Avebury to me is like no other prehistorical monument. It encompasses nearly all English history, Viking marauders on the Ridge-way, Roman Villas, Saxons, Norman Lords, French Monks, Royalty, The Civil War, Reformists, and much, much more.

When I visit Avebury (And I only have a very few times) I drink tea in the Tea Rooms, have a beer and a meal in the Red Lion, Have a look in the Shops and wander around the Church. Have a look at the Manor House and investigate the Dove Cot. If I take pictures I will team up the stones with the Church or Chapel and maybe the Pub. Obviously I don't do this all in one visit or every time but, the Village is as important to me as the Stones, Bank and Ditch. For me it's that kind of place. Unique history!! I believe the Monument and Village and it's history are 'bound' together.

Do I feel that digging up the stones that were buried so long a go will improve, help or aid that experience - No I don't. Do I believe that raising the Stones will help protect them - No I don't. Am I happy maintaining the Status Que - Yes I am.

Still I have no factual reasons for leaving them where they are, but thats how it is.

Well we all know that Avebury has come second best in Which by now, so this news is old news. But you can't beat the Daily Mail for giving you bright photos of how we triumphed ;)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2265688/Aveburys-stone-monument-named-worlds-second-best-heritage-site--beating-Taj-Mahal-ancient-Pyramids.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Can anybody show evidence that a buried Sarsen is likely to endure more damage than one that standing and subject to weathering?

Although most of us can see Avebury is “better” thanks to Keiller, despite his mistakes, that doesn't necessarily mean “more” would bring a lot more benefits than he already bestowed. It's important to be sure that it would because the one certainty is that further excavation tomorrow would involve a conscious decision to destroy part of the archaeological record whereas doing it in the future would destroy less of it.

Buried archaeology is not like artefacts, the act of renovation destroys some of it's essence, which is the potential to recover immeasurable amounts of knowledge from it and it's surroundings, and that's a lesson Archaeology has learned the hard way but very thoroughly over time and is committed to now (though detectorists aren't) – to the extent that 99% of excavation takes place only in advance of development and loss of the asset and the remaining 1% , for research, usually involves only sampling a few percent and leaving as much as possible for the future. To the extent that, other than maybe 1 or 2 stones, EH would certainly not agree to a grand project and most archaeologists wouldn't agree to take part in it.

In the light of that, TMA calls for not one but lots of unthreatened stones to be dug up look a bit out of line with modern archaeological thinking and maybe gives the archaeological establishment the chance to look down on amateurs, which is a shame.

Using the 'recent' work carried out in the Beckhampton Avenue where lost stones were re-united with daylight as an example, it shows that as long as there is funding the job can be done even though we have been offered 'excuses' why it can't. Those excuses have all been ignored in this instance...why? Anyone care to explain why this 'overlooking' can't be extended to re-erecting those buried stones in the circle?

Seems like most of us would like to see at least some re-erection (noting that at least one person doesn’t want to see any re-erection and others would like to see a total re-erection). So (correct me if I’m wrong) some excavation/re-erection (think there are a few stones that could be re-erected without much if any excavation by the way) is OK with most of us.

Trouble is, as with other threads, we discuss issues and then do little or nothing to implement what we think should be implemented...

I don't know the details of why the proposal foundered but a couple of bits from what EH said about them in 2002 (second post down in this thread) -

1. “Many of the proposals will answer questions which have been set out in the recently published Avebury WHS Research Agenda.”

2. There's a concern it might “create a precedent for the rest of Avebury, Stonehenge and possibly other Neolithic WHS such as Neolithic Orkney.

So that suggests
(1.) any renewed call won't get far unless it involves achieving a set research aim rather than simply an assertion that the stone should be raised because it's currently buried.

(2.) In addition if people approach them hinting they'd like it to be the first of many that won't help the case either.

I have to say if that IS how EH and UNESCO are looking at it I rather agree with them. I can't get away from the conviction it isn't our generation's monument and, like tenants of a house, we're only entitled to make small changes during our all-too-short stewardship, not big rebuilding projects.

Whichever way you look at this the thread has certainly captured the imagination judging by the 350 or so posts!

Well, I desided from the start not to give reasons for not digging up Avebury as the reasons were to my mind quite obvious.

I thought the best way to show opposition to restoration, was to allow those those that supported it to have their say, and they have.

Its done as far as I'm concerned.

Just sort of moving on a bit, assuming that the Sanctuary is now pretty well dug to extinction with little or anything more to gain from it, would you like to see it re-instated with new stones to give it a similar look to that of Aubreys days to make it more visually satisfying?

Is anyone else having the same problem as I am with the posts. When I click on a received post then go back to retrieve another, the previous one is still highlighted leaving me with dozens of highlighted posts to have to scroll through before finding a new one. Grrrrrr

I've been sent this photograph for an opinion and thought maybe we might all like the opportunity to comment on it.
It's an aerial taken above the Sanctuary clearly showing the A4, the Ridgeway Path, the well-known barrows, the old cafe and what is being suggested is an unrecorded nearly ploughed-out barrow indicated by a white arrow.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100525707086862773355/UnrecordedBarrow?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOv-KXs1NGOlwE#5837086032626239810

What do you think?

From British Archaeology today:

" Wiltshire museums say, stop digging!
British Archaeology believes two Wiltshire museums are the first to call a stop to archaeological excavation. Archaeologists are digging up so much stuff, that there is nowhere to store it and no money to pay to look after it. The museums say the situation is unsustainable, and contravenes national planning policy. They will object to new development proposals until a solution can be found."

That puts an extra dimension onto this thread.