Stonehenge plan could destroy unique archive of British history Plans for an underground dual-carriageway running close by Stonehenge would badly damage a major archaeological site near the world heritage […]

Plans for an underground dual-carriageway running close by Stonehenge would badly damage a major archaeological site near the world heritage site, experts warned.

Perfectly preserved hoofprints of wild cattle known as aurochs have recently been found at excavations a mile and a half from the famous stone circle in Wiltshire, University of Buckingham archaeologist David Jacques said.

The 6,000-year-old hoofprints, confirmed by carbon dating tests, are the latest in a wealth of finds in a decade-long archaeological dig at the Blick Mead site, close to Stonehenge.

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New development poses threat

But the tunnel, and a flyover close to the Blick Mead excavations which could also form part of the roadworks to improve the A303, could irrevocably damage the site, Prof Jacques said.

The Government has backed a blueprint to put the A303 into a tunnel as it passes the neolithic stone circle as part of measures to ease congestion and improve the setting of Stonehenge.

But critics warn the proposals, which include eastern and western entrances to the tunnel within the World Heritage site and a possible flyover near Amesbury, could harm the rich archaeological landscape.

‘Treasure trove’ of human history

The findings suggest there is an “invaluable archive of plant, insect and human prints” preserved elsewhere in the soil waiting to be uncovered through further excavation, archaeologists said.

These would be destroyed if the tunnel proceeds as the construction would drain the area of the water needed to preserve them.

“This is the only site in Great Britain where there is evidence that people have been living there from just after the end of the Ice Age till now,” said Professor Jacques, who is leading excavation at the site, 1.5 miles east of Stonehenge.

“This is the only site in Great Britain where there is evidence that people have been living there from just after the end of the Ice Age till now,” David Jacques

“The place is like a national archive for organic material – which are like documents. It would be like destroying a unique library,” he warned.

Plant and animal prints in the soil are better at preserving details of past life than fossils and have the potential to bring the flora and fauna living in the area shortly after the last ice age to life, he said.

Dr Julian Richards, presenter of BBC Two’s Meet the Ancestors, said: “If we go ahead with it then I am convinced that future generations will judge us harshly. They will ask us were we thinking of to allow this to happen to such an important World Heritage landscape.”

Consultation starts this week

A public consultation begins on Thursday into the plan to build a 1.8 mile long tunnel and flyover between Amesbury and Berwick Down on the A303 in Wiltshire. The aim is to speed traffic flow in the area by replacing the existing single-lane road with an underground dual-carraigeway.

Prof Jacques said the impacts on the Blick Mead site hadn’t actually been assessed – a point he found extraordinary given its archaeological importance and proximity to the proposed development.

Prof Jacques also questioned why a map of the plans located Blick Mead further from the development than it actually is in reality – implying that the construction would be less damaging.

The newly dated footprints of the cattle, known as aurohs and regarded as sacred, had been preserved under a stone surface, meaning that they were being stored for ritualistic purposes.

Frogs legs

They add to previous physical artifacts that have been found on the site including signs of feasting on cooked frogs legs.

David Bullock, Highways England project manager, said: “The document in question is a land ownership boundary plan.

“The plan shows indicative general features and was never intended as a geographical map.

“We have just announced the start of statutory consultation on the A303 Stonehenge scheme and we welcome feedback from all interested parties during this process.

“Consultation will start on Thursday 8 February, which will provide an opportunity for everyone to give their views on our proposals and we would like as much feedback as possible.

“This will help us to make sure we have got the best scheme, or highlight where we still need to make changes, before we make our application to build the scheme.”