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Quarrying will destroy neolithic treasures at Thornborough
May 17, 2005, 4:56 pm
The Thornborough henges are one of neolithic Britain�s largest monuments; a huge complex of three ancient earthworks surrounded by other features including ritual causeways, a cursus, burial grounds and settlements.
Photo: Jane Tomlinson
However, Tarmac want to build a quarry there. In preparation for their planning application to quarry at Ladybridge farm, close to the giant henges at Thornborough, Tarmac started a small scale excavation, exploring only 2% of area they plan to exploit. Many heritage campaigners were very sceptical that a 2% evaluation would find any archaeology at all.
Ironically, Tarmac discovered several pits containing neolithic pottery. The finds are of the same type as those discovered in nearby Nosterfield and shows that the ritual settlement in the area extended as far as Ladybridge. It confirms that probably a great many more archaeological treasures lie hidden beneath the soil - unexcavated - at Ladybridge farm. The finds are of the same date as the henges and are probably the remains of camps made by short term neolithic visitors to the area.
George Chaplin, member of Heritage Action and chairman of TimeWatch, a group campaigning to preserve the Thornborough landscape, said: "Even from this tiny excavation we can tell that 5,000 years ago, neolithic people rested and relaxed here between henge ceremonies and sharpened their tools by the fire."
This is the strongest confirmation possible that archaeology of national importance will be destroyed if this quarry is allowed to proceed and vindicates the campaigns to save the henges and surrounding areas from quarrying and commercial exploitation.
To read more about the fight to save Thornborough, see these pages.
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