[Stones] A penny for your thoughts?

[Andy Norfolk]

John Germain wrote:  
>
> My perception of AMs is quite healthy, thanks.
>
> I am also very well aware that sites will decay over time or be lost 
> altogether, without human intervention.
>
That's the point John. Natural decay *may* be acceptable. Destruction by 
willful acts of damage or ignorant acts will unnecessarily hasten the 
destruction of  ancient sites.
>
> My intended point in the context was that children are the least 
> likely to do damage but best able to obtain (perhaps subliminally) a 
> sense of a site.
>
I know of a stone circle in Cornwall in which a very small child knocked 
over a stone. They were lucky not to have been squashed by it. Some of 
the stone in circles and standing on their own are not set deep into the 
ground and when the ground is dry and has shrunk away from their bases 
they may be easily toppled. Children may also cause quite a lot of 
damage to cairns and other built stone monuments by dislodging stones. 
This is a problem with some sites in Cornwall.

What those with whom you disagree on this issue would like to do is 
educate people to respect the sites and understand that even thoughtless 
actions can be very destructive.

Andy N