Historic sites should be left alone

Millions of people head to museums worldwide to marvel at the finds of archaeologists. But Klára, 13, from the English College in Prague, argues that their work sometimes comes at too high of a price.

It is now 25 years since the historical monument of Seahenge was excavated from its original place in a village Holme-next-the-sea, NorfolkA county in eastern England., despite widespread protests. In the memory of this event, I have a tale, a statement, and a call to action.

Seahenge was a timber monument that was found in 1998 by a local named John Lorimer, a special-needs worker and an amateur archaeologistA person who studies history through the excavation of sites and artefacts., while he was fishing. After some exploration of the area, a six to seven metre circle revealed itself from the sea. In the middle of it stood an upside-down tree stump. The discovery was amazing news, not only because the small village got some publicity, but also because it was an astonishing archeological find. After samples were taken from the wood planks, it was concluded that the monument had stood there for more than 4,000 years. Soon, English HeritageA charity that manages historic monuments and sites in England. wanted to fund the excavation of this monument, despite the disapproval of the public and the local Druid/Pagan population. Their protests went unheard. English Heritage excavated the site after a stand-off with a handful of the town’s citizens. “This is a gift from the past to the present, and it shouldn’t be disturbed,” declared Mr Nolan, who “lead” the people of Holme-next-the-sea.

The timbers of Seahenge were transported to the Lynn Museum. Later it was separated; half was transported to the British Museum. In the end, archaeological research found only two facts. The monument was made with 55 different trees, and 50 different bronze axes.

Now, why am I telling you this 25 years after the incident, why is it important, and why should you care?

To this day, around most of the world, there is no law restricting archeologists from taking monuments off of private/town property. Seahenge was magical not for its 55 different types of wood, but for its location, for its appearance only with wave erosion once in a couple years’ time, for its mysterious ensemble, created more than 4,000 years ago.

The archeologists said that the excavation of the monument was necessary for its preservation, but, if the Bronze Age monument stood there since the spring-summer of 2049 BC, isn’t that proof that it certainly would’ve outlived our sons, their daughters, and the ones that would come after?

It is time to make a change. We should, as a society, admit that some things are never going to be known to us. Some things are better left alone, so next time we find a simple circle of wood revealing itself from the waves of the sea, can we inspect and analyse it, but leave it be?

Interested in submitting your own Student Voices article or video? Find out more here.