Julian Cope presents Head Heritage

TBH, this is the kind of cultural vandalism that we should be railing against, not access to an ancient monument a couple of times a year.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/26/isis-fighters-destroy-ancient-artefacts-mosul-museum-iraq

I'm sick of our heritage being pickled in aspic. Stonehenge has been around for quite a while, and it's taken it's fair share of knocks during that time (hell, didn't Victorians chisel off keepsake to take home). Historically, some of the biggest 'vandals' have been bloody archaeologist re-erecting stones and using concrete props etc... Things like the oil will degrade over time, even if it isn't breaking down straight away. I am horrified at how people behave at these sites, but I still agree to access without paying, to all sites.

Maybe they could set up cctv around the stones. They'd have evidence for any wanton vandalism and be able to make prosecutions, as long as you can catch the buggers of course.

I still don't think the mindless acts of a few dicks should close access for the generally well behaved masses. The amount of 'ritual' crap I see, and 'offerings' left at numerous sites beggars belief. It isn't just Stonehenge that's under 'attack'. with the exception of the graffiti, I don't even think it's even wanton damage, just an ill advised and poorly thought through act.

Maybe EH or whomever is responsible for these places could draw up and locate at each site a plaque stating an expected code of conduct when visiting these special places.

I agree other ancient sites do get vandalised - often by people who seem to have no perception that they are causing damage. Candles inside West Kennet Long Barrow come to mind. Stonehenge seems to be a unique case with the Solstice celebrations - although the stones are massive the site itself is quite small - unlike Avebury which remains free of any charge and seems to accommodate celebrations at the Solstices without too much hassle. I do recall being out there last summer leading up to the Solstice when there was a heavy police presence (with sniffer dogs) and warning notices about drugs.

I don't know if and how the Solstice is observed at other stone circles - Stonehenge is the one that gets all the publicity - I can understand why but have never had any desire to be there myself.

King Arthur [Pendragon] said the likes of Heritage Journal were simply stirring up the issue of damage because they wanted the stones closed off again.

"Heritage Journal have been doing that since they were formed in the first place," he said. "Basically they're just a number of archaeologists who don't want 'the great unwashed', as they see it, anywhere near Stonehenge."

"Obviously we abhor the vandalism. We always keep an eye out for these sorts of things. From my point of view, as a druid and a pagan priest, it's not on," he added.
http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Archaeologists-don-t-want-great-unwashed/story-26113310-detail/story.html