Thursday, July 1, 1999

BBC News Sci/Tech

Seahenge removal starts again

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_380000/380649.stm

Archaeologists have resumed digging up a Bronze Age oak circle on a Norfolk beach, despite protests from druids.

English Heritage says it must remove the 4,000-year-old circle, off Holme-next-the-Sea, near Hunstanton, because it is in danger of being eroded away.

On Thursday, it resumed excavation work, despite the presence of the arch-druid of Great Britain, Rolo Mof-Lim, and two other druids.

The three read a statement from inside the circle accusing the archaeologists of "controlled vandalism".

The ancient structure, dubbed Seahenge, emerged from the sea last November and has been described as one of the most exciting archaeological finds in history.

It dates from about the same time as Stonehenge, and English Heritage says it contains vital information about Bronze Age life.

Experts want to take the circle, made of 55 oak trunks and an upturned oak base, to the Flag Fen archaeological centre near Peterborough, in Cambridgeshire.

There it will be stored in special water containers and analysed. In the long-term, it is expected to be put in a museum in the west or north Norfolk area.

However, local campaigners, environmentalists and druids oppose the removal of the posts, which the latter say are "spiritually important".

Three weeks ago, a group of about 12 druids and green protesters sat on the centre of the historic structure, which only emerges at high tide, to delay the dig.

After talks aimed at settling their differences, the dig continued but was again halted by sporadic protests by several druids.

Earlier this week, it was held up by a lone druid, called Crow, who staged a sit-in inside the circle. However, archaeologists resumed when he moved off the site on Thursday.