[Stones] A penny for your thoughts?

[Ric]

the only serious threat to (sarsen) stones today is fire: the tea-light cult is a serious and real threat to our megalithic heritage, and i still don't see EH or NT placards forbidding them - or indeed fires generally - in the close proximity of stones?
   
  another real threat to stones - especially at Avebury - is the burial of sarsens in antiquity - sarsen stones which tons of modern agricultural machinery now clatters over, year in - year out, and nothing is done about it
   
  ric
  

The Webmistress <the.webmistress at virgin.net> wrote:
  on 20/6/06 9:36 AM, Cerridwen Connelly wrote:

> *From: "Ric"

> **Cerridwen Connelly wrote: When
> these monuments were "new" the visitor traffic was far less than now,
> so leaving a token offering wasn't causing the present day cumulative
> damage.
> 
> * important point: what 'damage' is this, please - and where, specifically?
> 
> The coins jammed between the stones - the topic we were discussing.
> 
> Every visitor who sees someone else has done this, ups the odds of more
> people doing it. Result: cumulative damage to the stones. Clear now?

I think you will have to explain in much more detail...

Maybe include the fact that copper and other metallic salts aren't
particularly good for rocks, and that erosion isn't just caused by the
weather.

Add in a bit of chemistry and geology, for good luck?

Then there's the thing about 'clooties' and the fact that most fabrics now
have artificial fibres in and are not biodegradable, and are frequently tied
so tightly as to strangle the tree a year down the line...

As for 'where', the answer is pretty much anywhere where people can get to
the stones unsupervised and where the stones have a single available crack
to start them off.

Or whenever they think it's 'lucky' to add a strip of polyester fabric, a
piece of plastic ribbon, a hanging spoon (yes, that's what I said...), a
headless Barbie doll or a metal-framed plastic-coated wreath made with
artificial flowers...

Taking out the first 'offerings' and putting them somewhere neutral but
close is what I would suggest. Followed, if possible, by adding a laminated
notice to the EH or NT notice board about the way that damage is caused.

I do not believe that many of these people would do it if they understood
why it was unwise. But there is still widespread ignorance of chemistry,
geology and botany.
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