Representatives from the Norfolk Archaeology Unit,
English Heritage and Flag Fen attended a meeting at Holme Village Hall on the 19th May
1999 at the invitation of the Parish Council. Chairman Geoff Needham had
called the meeting because of local concern about what was happening to the timber circle
found on the beach at Holme. The villagers felt very strongly that they should have
been consulted about this monument found in the heart of their district.Brian Ayers of the Archaeological Unit spoke to the 100 people present and
gave an appraisal of his present understanding of the monument.
He said the Timber Circle had not always been in the sea.
It was constructed in 2000 BC and had been sealed in and preserved by the peat. The
Unit had removed samples for radio carbon dating and had recorded the site.
The prime concern was of the threat to the circle by the eroding
of the beach by the sea. "It will be lost to the sea", he said. He
does not know what it is, but Mr. Ayers was sure it was not a 'henge'. There is no
evidence of a bank or ditch which is so common with henges.
Mr. Ayers went on to say that it was built from green oak timbers
using technology usual in the Bronze Age. The split edge of the timbers were all
facing inwards with the outside of the tree facing away.
They had no choice but to remove the monument under careful
archaeological conditions to save it for posterity. It would be then be taken to
Flag Fen where the fragile timbers would go into safe storage. After interpretation
procedures had been completed it would be possible for the monument to be returned to the
locality.
The decision to remove the monument had been taken in
consultation with the County Council, the Borough Council, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, English
Heritage and English Nature. Mr. Ayers said he had had no idea that local people
would be so interested in this site and he apologised for not consulting them.
The meeting ended with very little satisfaction for the community
in the knowledge that the next day the archaeologists were to make a start with the
removal of the 'henge' without any thought being given to its eventual resting place.
Also, as a damage limitation excercise the meeting was a failure. "They
did not come to listen to what we had to say", said Chairman Geoff Needham.
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