NationStates Jolt Archive

A recently discovered 4000 year old monument in rural Herefordshire is soon to be covered by a new road development. Archaeologists believe this major find on the outskirts of Hereford is unique in the world, as important as Stonehenge.

Development of the Rotherwas Access Road must stop immediately. A full public inquiry should be held to decide the future of the Rotherwas Ribbon.

The Rotherwas Ribbon is a snake-like monument built in three dimensions out of blocks of stone. The stones were heated by fire and plunged into water to crack them into blocks, which have been sculpted to undulate along the 60 metre length of the monument.

Plans have been drawn up by Herefordshire Council and road developers to encase the find beneath the new road, which will run at right angles to the monument.

Sign this petition to send a message to Herefordshire Council and the Government that the Rotherwas Ribbon must be saved for the nation.


http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/rotherwas/

For more info see:
http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/news_events2/RotherwasNews2.htm
http://www.rotherwasribbon.com/
http://www.24dash.com/localgovernment/23721.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/6268900.stm

I will sign anything that limits the development and influence of Herefordshire

Couldn't the road just be built around it once they've found the extent of the site? That seems a lot more logical than destroying it.

Couldn't the road just be built around it once they've found the extent of the site? That seems a lot more logical than destroying it.

Logical yes, but it would involve the local council actually caring about the community and area it serves.


And "Call to power" this has nothing to do with limiting the development or influence of Herefordshire (not that it has much influence, it is the most rural county in England), it is about protecting both national and international heritage.

Logical yes, but it would involve the local council actually caring about the community and area it serves.

Where have I heard that before...that's one of the universals of local government it seems.

As much as I hesitate to stop development, since it usually has a good socioeconomic aim in mind, allowing a historical site to be destroyed because of convenience is terribly wrong.

Where have I heard that before...that's one of the universals of local government it seems.

As much as I hesitate to stop development, since it usually has a good socioeconomic aim in mind, allowing a historical site to be destroyed because of convenience is terribly wrong.

Thank you. I also notice you give your location as Ohio. And the closest parallel to the Rotherwas Ribbon is the "Great Serpent Mound", in Ohio. Ok, so the best part of 2500 years separate them, but there is an astonishing resemblance.

Where have I heard that before...that's one of the universals of local government it seems. Indeed, especially when they're bribed by contractors. *nods*

I'm still suprised that the ones around where I live haven't be lynched for some of the openly corrupt deals they've put down.

A road would give them more money than a tourist attraction?

From what I understand it was discovered in early 2007.

As far as I am concerned when something like that is found and its importance realised then appropriate action takes place.

In this case by naming it a SSI (Site of Scientific Interest) or higher to prevent building while a decision is made how to preserve the object(s).

It happens in London...where usually all the objects are moved or left to be built on (after extensive archaeological work).

Here the case is more problematic as the objects cannot be moved. Also when things like this are found there also interesting stuff in the vicinity.

And "Call to power" this has nothing to do with limiting the development or influence of Herefordshire (not that it has much influence, it is the most rural county in England), it is about protecting both national and international heritage.

no it isn't the parts of the ribbon will be covered by road (but this will not actually be damaging the site):

Protecting the 'Rotherwas Ribbon'

As soon as its significance was fully realised, it was decided to preserve the 'Ribbon' below the road.

An approach has been devised that will see the 'Ribbon' sealed within a protective structure beneath the carriageway and associated works as built.

Part of the 'Ribbon' as so far revealed will therefore lie beneath the road, and parts on either side of this will be preserved beneath earth screening bunds.

The extra cost of this operation will be borne within the project costs, but will be offset by a reduced need for further archaeological investigation.

http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/news_events2/RotherwasNews2.htm

seems like its just a bunch of folk jumping the gun case closed

Do you know anything about so-called "preservation"? It will be 5 inches of sand over a plastic sheet a few mm thick. That is not preservation, that is the contractor trying to avoid spending any more money by rerouting the road by 100 yards. This is a site of international significance, and deserves to be properly investigated and openly preserved, perhaps in a similar fashion to Flag Fen or other delicate sites.
Please I urge everyone, help save this unique piece of human history and heritage, by either signing the petition, or supporting the cause of the archaeologists in any other way.

Do you know anything about so-called "preservation"? It will be 5 inches of sand over a plastic sheet a few mm thick. That is not preservation

a few millimeter's of plastic is very strong and durable, don't get me started on sand!

with the road also added hell bring on nuclear war :p

that is the contractor trying to avoid spending any more money by rerouting the road by 100 yards.

it has guaranteed protection on the areas covered, its not covering the whole thing and the agreement has already been reached

basically its you saying "but its not fair!" when a very acceptable solution has been made

This is a site of international significance, and deserves to be properly investigated and openly preserved, perhaps in a similar fashion to Flag Fen or other delicate sites.

well lets see:

1) the whole site isn't being covered
2) the areas covered are going to be preserved unlike if we opened the whole thing up to the elements just too keep a few tourists happy

Except that the contractors have already acknowledged that the alluvial clay that makes up the plain the road is being built on will be compacted by the heavy road traffic. What do you think will happen to the "Ribbon" if it is stuck between the road and the underlying soft ground?

And there is no question of leaving it wide open to the elements. The archaeologists are recommending a much better proposal to preserve the site whilst still being able to investigate it. The road would be moved slightly, and would not be allowed to impinge on any part of the site.

I'm all for the preservation of historical monuments, but I really don't feel like it's my place, seeing as how I don't even know where... Herefordshire is.
That town name is really hard to read for some reason.

Anyway though...
I suggest turning this into a local involvment.
Go around town and find out if anybody else agrees with you. More specifically, people of respectable stature in the area that agree with you.
If you find someone who is a well respected citizen in the area that could help you convince people that this is wrong to do, then you could probably stop it. The help of a bunch of teenagers and bored college students on the internet isn't going to mean anything to the city council or district traffic wardens or whatever position is in charge of this crap.

This historical monument is a huge find and by all means should not be destroyed, due to it's cultural and historical significance.
Do it. Find some people. Get help to prevent this thing from being demolished.
Go talk to some professors at the nearest University.

If anyone here has been to Stonehenge you will realise how "careful" the UK is at preserving it's ancient past. I was personally appalled by the fact that you had two major roads passing very close to Stonehenge. You have to walk under a major road from the tourist parking lot to the ruins. I was more surprised about how the site was preserved then the how the site looked itself. Was a joke in my opinion. But not to pick on just the UK. There were sites all over Europe that were not well preserved. Stonehenge is such a blatant and well known example.

i hate that things like this need petitioning. do councils have no sense whatsoever? it's like the (other) travesty that occurred with the scottish parliament being built over an apparently fairly significant archaeological site without it ever being properly investigated, it was just hushed up and building continued. drives me mad :mad:

Except that the contractors have already acknowledged that the alluvial clay that makes up the plain the road is being built on will be compacted by the heavy road traffic. What do you think will happen to the "Ribbon" if it is stuck between the road and the underlying soft ground?

:eek: it would be slightly lower than before!

The archaeologists are recommending a much better proposal to preserve the site whilst still being able to investigate it.

much like what is happening anyway

Do you know anything about so-called "preservation"? It will be 5 inches of sand over a plastic sheet a few mm thick. That is not preservation, that is the contractor trying to avoid spending any more money by rerouting the road by 100 yards. This is a site of international significance, and deserves to be properly investigated and openly preserved, perhaps in a similar fashion to Flag Fen or other delicate sites.
Please I urge everyone, help save this unique piece of human history and heritage, by either signing the petition, or supporting the cause of the archaeologists in any other way.


Well said. Llyn Cerrig Bach (small lake on Anglesey postulated to be the central site of Druidism) was shamefully covered over by an airfield, despite its historical value; the same should not be allowed to happen again.