| Debating Seahenge, a day-long meeting at UEA took place on
Saturday 11th March 2000.
Organised by Dr. Robin Skeates of the School of World Art Studies and Museology,
the ultimate aim was to try to find some ethical and practical ways forward for the
future, particularly for archaeologists who recurrently find themselves at the centre of
the sort of controversy that arose with the removal of Seahenge from its place on Holme's
beach.
Throughout the world, competing interest groups have laid claim to the material
remains of the past.
A number of people representing various interests were invited to speak giving
their ideas and opinions. Speakers included Rollo Maughfling, arch-druid of Britain;
Geoff Needham, Chairman of Holme Parish Council; Richard Morris, Chair of English Heritage
Ancient Monuments Advisory Committee; Janice Howell, Chair of the Norfolk Coastal
Communities Association and Robert Wallis Ph.D. from the Dept of Archaeology, University
of Southamptom. No representatives from Flag Fen or Norfolk Archaeology accepted
invitations to attend.
Richard Morris of English heritage defended the removal of Seahenge in the face
of clear scientific advice that the timbers were in danger of erosion. He did,
however, say that in future English Heritage would consider wider consultation
before deciding to excavate sites.
There will be a further report when UEA publishes its findings.
Meanwhile, English Heritage has confirmed that the
Seahenge timbers are to be taken from Flag Fen and moved to the Museum of Rural Life at
Gressenhall, near Dereham in Norfolk. Dating of the timbers will be completed by
September when they will be moved to the Museum to be conserved. Chairman of English
Heritage Sir Jocelyn Stevens, making the announcement said that it would take two to five
years to stabilise the timbers.
A Forum is to meet to
debate the eventual resting place of Seahenge where it can be displayed to the
public. This forum consists of English Heritage, Norfolk County Council, Norfolk
Wildlife Trust, English Nature, the owner of Holme's beach, Norfolk Museums Service and
Holme-Next-The-Sea representatives. This may take place later this year.
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