Must we rewrite #Stonehenge's history? No! But news that the Altar Stone came from NE Scotland is sensational. It widens horizons & suggests the monument was very much part of a Neolithic world spanning the UK.

My key takeaways in thread below... 1/6 1 source outcrops include Orkney, with stone circles and megaliths, and Rhynie, site of Dark Age inscribed standing stones 2/6

#Putin is attacking #Ukrainian identity. Midst the horror of warfare cultural property is both a target & critically important to the country’s future. British Archaeology has received letters from affected archaeologists which we will publish in full in April. Some extracts.. 1/ From Fedir Androshchuk, Director-General, National Museum of the History of Ukraine [pic 1st director]:

"During the time of the Russian Empire & then Soviet Union, many objects of Ukrainian culture were moved to Russia & found their place in such museums as the Hermitage... 2/

A thread on the new Welsh stone circle and #Stonehenge.

What is at Stonehenge today can inform the theory that the original monument in Wiltshire was a “second-hand” Welsh ring.

How does it stand up? All known stones at Waun Mawn (4 megaliths & 1 flake) are unspotted dolerite. This is rare at Stonehenge: currently 3/30 dolerite megaliths are unspotted – 7.3% of all bluestones. If we infer 35 missing stones, we have a total of 6 unspotted dolerite stones (7.3% of 35 = 2.5)

I’ve just seen the new BBC #Stonehenge film. To those archaeologists upset by The Dig (a movie drama) I say: watch this (a documentary). Some lovely film, & great to see dig sequences (congrats Ian Potts, Fiona Scott & colleagues). And the new stone circle is a great discovery... Drive of MPP & colleagues to achieve that is v impressive. The discovery feeds into a growing picture of links between the Preseli and Stonehenge areas in prehistory. Sledge experiment was fun. Fascinating stuff, and more could be said. So why all the guff, BBC?

Here from my quick reading is a summary of some key points from the #Stonehenge tunnel consent (long thread coming up!). Whatever your views it's a momentous decision
…structure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/south… Examining Authority recommended in Jan 2020 that Secretary of State for Transport withhold consent. If SoS decided otherwise, ExA recommended a form of consent

SoS sees clear need with benefits that weigh significantly in their favour

Can be challenged only by judicial review

There’s much confusion in these comments, and rather than respond to each one I think it’s more helpful if I address it all in a new thread. What’s happening in the #Stonehenge World Heritage Site is complex, has a long history and has no easy solutions. Sorry for the length 🙂

https://twitter.com/profdanhicks/status/1292198788505968640

No one who cares about Stonehenge would wish roadworks anywhere near it. Anyone who understands the Stonehenge landscape knows that something has to change. The tunnel proposal is the least damaging option, on the table or in anyone's imaginations. There are real benefits.