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| Stone Formation Archive 2002 |
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 Stone Formations news, views, gallery and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Stonehenge Stonehenge Project Stonehenge 360 Avebury Saviours Stones Village Solstice Wayland Smithy Long Barrow Woodhenge Gallery Summer Solstice Gallery 2002 Summer Solstice Gallery 2004 Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
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published on 19 Dec 2002 4,000-year pots get modern treatment A MAJOR county project to conserve priceless prehistoric pots, some held together with cement and bicycle spokes, has reached its halfway stage. More than 100 ceramic pots were discovered near Stonehenge, Avebury and other historically significant sites across Wiltshire, and the project to save them is thought to be the first of its kind in the country. A total of 52 ceramic pots, all between 3,000 and 4,000 years old, have already been conserved. Work on the remaining 53 pots is expected to be finished by April 2004. Many were discovered by three of the most celebrated pioneers of archaeology, Sir Richard Colt Hoare, owner of the Stourhead estate, his colleague, William Cunnington, and General Henry Pitt-Rivers, one of the leading archaeologists and anthropologists of the Victorian age. The historic vessels form part of the Bronze Age ceramics collections at the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum in Salisbury, and the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes. The two museums are working in partnership with Wiltshire County Council to conserve the pots, considered to be important pieces of our national heritage. The Bronze Age artefacts have become increasingly fragile in recent years and would have suffered irreparable damage without the efforts of conservators from the county council. Two conservators and a sub-contractor are currently working full-time on the project at the county council's conservation centre in Salisbury. The conservation operation is time-consuming and requires meticulous skill, for example, a large vessel with cement to remove can take up to 230 hours to conserve. Techniques include rebuilding the pots using sympathetic modern materials and providing specialist packing for each vessel. Restoration by previous generations used a bizarre combination of materials, including cement, terracotta plant pots, and bicycle spokes. Some of these Victorian restorations are also seen as being of historic interest, and conservators will attempt to save elements of them. In some cases, the names of the original restorers have been inscribed in the cement bases. Jane Scott, Wiltshire County Council's cabinet member for children, education and libraries, said: "I am delighted with the progress being made towards completing this nationally important project." Wiltshire County Council's conservation and museums manager, Louisa Burden, said: "The project aims to give members of the public and researchers access to these historically important objects. If they had not been conserved that would not have been possible, as the pots are very fragile." Back to 2002 index |
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