Campaigners Gather in Fight to Save Silbury Hill
From the Wiltshire GAzette and Herald, 31 May 04
Campaigners gathered at Silbury Hill, at Avebury, on Saturday, four years after the summit collapsed, to air their concerns over its future.
Heritage Action, a group dedicated to the care of threatened and neglected prehistoric sites, believe urgent action is needed to prevent further damage.
The group wants English Heritage, which manages the site, to take heed of its rallying cry fix the hill.
Avebury resident and campaigner Pete Glastonbury said: "Local people are now aware of the situation and many archaeologists are very concerned.
"The word is rapidly getting out to the wider public that nothing has been done and they're disgusted with English Heritage's inaction."
Silbury Hill is the world's largest man-made prehistoric mound.
It was built by our Neolithic ancestors 4,500 years ago and represents a work-effort that far outstrips Stonehenge or Avebury.
It is Britain's equivalent of the Egyptian pyramids and pre-dates many of them.
On May 29, 2000 it suffered the first of a series of collapses of old excavation tunnels and a huge hole appeared at the top.
In 1974 it was fenced off in order to protect it from the erosion caused by thousands climbing it.
Earlier this month the site's owner, Lord Avebury, told a public inquiry into the wording of the Countryside And Rights of Way Act draft legislation he was stunned the Countryside Agency wanted to label the hill as unimproved chalk grassland.
The move could lead to ramblers having free access to the hill, which opponents fear may cause damage.
Posted by Jane
1st June 2004ce
Edited 2nd June 2004ce