6th June 2005, 07:05 PM
Me and an archaeologist colleague also went, which makes six archs there I reckon Troll.
I missed the market and the Tarmac display as well as all the talks. A bit disappointing really, as that's what I wanted to see. We saw a few pretty decent bands and the whole thing seemed well organized and recieved.
Now for the difficult admission. We went because we wanted to guage local opinion on the present archaeology being done at Ladybridge. My company is doing it (as subcontractors to the archaeological consultants), and I'm not entirely sure that I disagree with the proposals so far. I say not entirely because I also got a copy of Tarmac's glossy propaganda and it annoyed me. "See our products in this nice new hospital" etc etc.
I have worked with the consultants that are being vilified on this one, and without reservation they are the best, most ethical consultants I've ever worked with. They have not been hired to minimize the archaeology. A staggering amount of evaluative work has and is still being done, far more than any other similar sized project that I've seen. It's being done exactly because of the special nature of the site.
Now, of course I'm dead set against quarrying of the henges, which some protestors seem to suggest is inevitable. But the hinterland? Surely we need to know as much as possible, and Tarmac is now permitting us to do that, whatever their past crimes. Preservation in-situ does not apear to be much of an option in the area around the henges until one of our heritage quango's stops it from being ploughed every year.
So, let the ****storm begin. I'm very open to debate.
PS. I don't work for a cowboy unit. We have been chosen because we are very good-not cheap!
I missed the market and the Tarmac display as well as all the talks. A bit disappointing really, as that's what I wanted to see. We saw a few pretty decent bands and the whole thing seemed well organized and recieved.
Now for the difficult admission. We went because we wanted to guage local opinion on the present archaeology being done at Ladybridge. My company is doing it (as subcontractors to the archaeological consultants), and I'm not entirely sure that I disagree with the proposals so far. I say not entirely because I also got a copy of Tarmac's glossy propaganda and it annoyed me. "See our products in this nice new hospital" etc etc.
I have worked with the consultants that are being vilified on this one, and without reservation they are the best, most ethical consultants I've ever worked with. They have not been hired to minimize the archaeology. A staggering amount of evaluative work has and is still being done, far more than any other similar sized project that I've seen. It's being done exactly because of the special nature of the site.
Now, of course I'm dead set against quarrying of the henges, which some protestors seem to suggest is inevitable. But the hinterland? Surely we need to know as much as possible, and Tarmac is now permitting us to do that, whatever their past crimes. Preservation in-situ does not apear to be much of an option in the area around the henges until one of our heritage quango's stops it from being ploughed every year.
So, let the ****storm begin. I'm very open to debate.
PS. I don't work for a cowboy unit. We have been chosen because we are very good-not cheap!