SILBURY-HILL

SAVE OUR SILBURY-HILL !

SILBURY HILL IS IN DANGER OF A LANDSLIP INTO THE HOLE'S LEFT BY PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO FIND THE TREASURE SAID TO BE HIDDEN INSIDE, BUT NEVER FOUND. NOT EVEN A BODY. HERE ARE THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BROUGHT US THIS SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS:-

The 130 foot man made mound is 4,500 years old and known for centuries as Silbury Hill. Old stories say the mountain owes it's name to King Sil, who after his death, was propped up on a horse made of solid gold and then entombed in an estimated 36,000,000 basketfuls of earth. - A task that would have taken 500 people 15 years or more. The whole thing was not only gigantic but precise, and covering 5 acres. Despite tales of the gold horse that lay within, the hill was left untouched until the modern era; plunderers were no doubt discouraged by the need to bore through so much earth. Not until 1776 was the first shaft sunk into the hill. But neither King Sil or his golden horse were found. A second tunnel sank in 1849 fared no better, nor did an even more ambitious effort in 1968, In fact all of the drilling has not yet produced a single clue as to the hills origins? So why did so many people work so hard on this man made mountain and what was it's true purpose? There are many theories about what it was made for, may be a giant sundial, perhaps a huge symbol of an eye or a monument to a long forgotten deity. What ever it was built for it is the tallest man made prehistoric structure in Europe. But for how long, as the shafts mentioned above are now causing major damage putting the whole structure at risk of collapse after the wettest 12 months on record the mainly chalk and flint mound is in a sad state and out of bounds. Even in a normal spring the hill is surrounded by a massive water filled moat, also the near by road blocks the original drainage ways trapping the water at it's base.

Below are points that various groups have raised as the most urgent requirements in order to stop things getting worse and give poor old Silbury Hill a chance to live on for a few thousand years more.

The specific requests for action are: 1. That the sides of the hole are immediately temporarily shored to prevent any further slippage of undisturbed archaeological deposits. 2. That the hole is covered to keep rain out but allow air in. This in itself could cause problems if we get prolonged rain BUT if we leave the hole open to the elements further collapse will occur. 3. That a timetable of investigation and conservation be made public. 4. That detailed information be made available to the public and updated weekly. It is Reiterated that EH and NT are not directly responsible for the desperate state of Silbury Hill and that both organizations require better funding. ***************************** REPLY FROM EH RECIVED 25/05/01 :-

English Heritage are currently carrying out urgent investigations into what has caused the hole to appear at the summit of Silbury Hill. They have recently carried out exploratory excavations which will help them draw up a programme of remedial works. They have also invited tenders for a seismic survey of the Hill which will map this and other later tunnels in the monument so that the full extent of the problem can be assessed accurately. This work is not, as you suggest, being delayed because of funding difficulties; this is a complicated issue and it is vitally important for the integrity of the monument that the correct steps are taken. Until the exact size and position of these shafts is known, repair work cannot be undertaken in case this further destabilises the Hill. Yours sincerely Matthew Ashwood Listing and Archaeology