Effects of Quarrying

EFFECTS OF QUARRYING

Dr Mark Horton, who is head of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Bristol and a presenter on “Time Flyers”, contrasts attitudes in the north of England with those in the south.

“That such landscape destruction could even be considered around Stonehenge, or even our lesser-known sites in the south, is unthinkable. With the new scheme to tunnel the A303 under the Stonehenge landscape, the Government has recognised that a largely unscheduled landscape has to be preserved in situ at a cost to the nation of around £100m. Yet at Thornborough, it is OK to seriously consider the total loss of a prehistoric landscape, arguably as important, for simple economic gain.”

Thornborough Moor: the green “restored” area on the left shows how earlier quarrying bit into the central henge. The water-filled pits at the top give some indication of the extent of the current quarry north of the B6267. The northern henge is covered by a circular copse of trees, but is otherwise well-preserved.

Part of the operational quarry at Nosterfield

Are you under the impression that the planning system is designed to protect the setting of ancient monuments?

Discover the unpalatable truth at Thornborough; see links below:

Become totally un-henged:
Join the Friends of Thornborough Henges at no cost
click here