The Digger
Foamhenge?.
Can you
picture his face? Your site director turns up to work on Monday to find Stonehenge
has appeared on his site. There were only a few muddy pits and postholes before,
but now he's dwarfed by trilithons, he's surrounded by bluestones and there's
a heelstone on the horizon. Try describing that on a context sheet.
Channel 5 reconstructed Stonehenge out of polystyrene for a programme broadcast
at the summer solstice last year. Now the life-size replica is looking for
a new home. Could your site oblige?
Mike Pitts, editor of British Archaeology and the Stonehenge expert who took
part in the programme, told The Digger that the replica 'is still in storage
with the haulage contractor who took it from the site after the broadcasts.'
The production company Darlow Smithson tried to sell it on eBay, but no one
met the reserve price. North Wiltshire District Council wanted to put it up
in the grounds of a local college, but baulked at the cost of hiring a fleet
of 14 articulated lorries to transport the thing. So why not? Have a whip-round.
Raid the tea kitty. It’ll be worth it just to see the reaction.
Meanwhile, Daventry's District Council has approved plans for its own fake 'Stonehenge' to be built on top of Cracks Hill, an historic landmark in South Northants.
This one will be made of carboniferous limestone rather than polystyrene
with four 10-tonne stones at compass points near the top of the hill and a
fifth stone at the summit. The planning committee was told that army Chinook
helicopters could be drafted in to airlift the stones into position. Ironically
this fake monument may actually destroy some real archaeology on the site.
Never fear, though - the council says that Northants Heritage will be notified
seven days in advance of any work taking place.
Links:
WIKI details on Foamhenge - enjoy!
Tell me!
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