Former States archaeologist works on Stonehenge repairs
A FORMER States archaeologist is taking part in ‘one of the most significant conservation projects at Stonehenge’ in 60 years.
Heather Sebire, currently English Heritage senior curator for Stonehenge, spent more than 20 years in Guernsey.
Now, she is part of a conservation project with the English Heritage charity to protect the 4,500 year old Stonehenge site for generations to come.
Scans revealed cracks and surface damage to the lintels – the elevated horizontal stones that make Stonehenge so iconic. The project will repair cracks in the lintels and re-pack the joints with lime mortar to keep the stones safe into the future.
‘Stonehenge is a fantastic, wonderful site,’ Ms Sebire said.
‘The work isn’t as glamorous as it sounds, but it’s a wonderful feeling to be conserving such a global icon for the future generations.’
The conservation work began last week and is expected to take up to two weeks. Small scaffolding towers are being used to access the top of the stones to remove deteriorating mortar and repack joints with lime mortar to prevent further erosion.
‘Stonehenge is unique among stone circles by virtue of its lintels and the special joints used to secure the lintels in place,’ said Ms Sebire.
‘Four and-a-half thousand years of being buffeted by wind and rain has created cracks and holes in the surface of the stone and this vital work will protect the features which make Stonehenge so distinctive.
‘Thanks to the sophisticated laser scan technology and our regular checks and monitoring, the stones will now be able to stand the test of time – and Salisbury Plain weather – for many more years.’
Although Ms Sebire is heavily involved with conservation and archaeology work associated with Stonehenge, in her free time she is still working closely with members of the Guernsey archaeology team.
Ms Sebire was involved in the Lihou Priory project, which has spanned more than 10 years, as part of her role as States archaeologist.
She said there are still papers and reports she is writing up as part of that project.
She explained that the biggest difference between working in Guernsey and on projects in England were the size and scale as well as the background.
Guernsey’s archaeological history is primarily French, according to Ms Sebire, which sets the island apart from the rest of the country.
