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A seismic survey commissioned by National Heritage in February 2002, has found that Silbury Hill, the largest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe, is not on the verge of collapse. But the survey failed to reveal any secrets of the famous hill with a hole in it. Its findings were this week being poured over by researchers, including Brian Edwards from Marlborough. He said: “Apart from the fact that they tell us the hill was built in one hit they have told us nothing new. “I am appalled it has taken so long for them to tell us virtually what we knew already. I am very disappointed that all this work and expense has really taken us no further forward.” English Heritage commissioned international engineering company Cementation Skanska to carry out a seismic survey of the hill which involved raising a drilling rig to its summit and drilling four holes to the base. Sound waves were sent between the bore-holes in an attempt to identify any more voids within the hill which might lead to further collapses. Before the survey started one expert had expressed the fear that Silbury Hill might be full of holes rather “like a Gruyere cheese”. Dr Kevin Brown, regional director of English Heritage, said: “The results of the seismic survey are very encouraging as they have shown that the hill’s structure appears stable. “The survey has revealed, however, that a small part of a tunnel constructed near the base of the hill in 1969 has suffered a roof fall.” A team of experts is due to return to the hill shortly to gather more detailed information before making a full assessment of the hill’s future maintenance needs. The cores extracted by the drilling process were sent to the English Heritage Centre for Archaeology in Portsmouth where examination has shown what conditions were like when the hill was built and how it was built. The excavated core samples have confirmed the long-held theory that the hill was built in a spiral fashion. English Heritage spokeswoman Catherine Eady said it was believed the spiral could have been used as a pathway during construction or for ceremonial processions. |
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