A powerful group of senior archaeologists were always ready to defend one of the nation's greatest Iron Age treasures, the Old Oswestry Hill Fort in Shropshire, England, which was taught to date back at least 3,000 years.
It was considered as Queen Ganhumara's birthplace which gives the historical root for Queen Guinevere from the Arthurian legends. Although British law protects the site, the lands beyond it though are not considered to be protected. Thus, Shropshire council, wants to begin a construction adjacent to the historic site, along the southern border of the ancient hill to be exact, according to New Historian.
The planning permission was already granted earlier in June despite the petition from local residents expressing their displeasure with the plan with 8,000 signatures indicating their desire to preserve the land. Prominent archaeologists and historians have been united to protest the plans which was headed by Dr. Mike Heyworth from the Council for British Archaeology, and University of Oxford archaeology emeritus Sir Barry Cunliffe.
"Old Oswestry is in the premier league of monuments; among hill forts, it's in the top 10 with Maiden Castle [in Dorset] and Danebury [in Hampshire].It's not just sitting there in isolation. It's part of a network of historic sites of a similar date. Hill forts are part of a whole landscape." Sir Heyworth quoted.
The Guardian news reported that Sir Cunliffe, who was in discussion with the people who want to develop the site, said that they have grossly overstepped what is ethically acceptable. He also described the Old Oswestry Hill Fort was good but now it is in bad condition. He also added that the land could be fought over fairly.
As a response, the spokesperson for Shropshire council has told that they recognize the sensitivity of the Old Oswestry Hill Fort and its setting throughout their local plan-making process which started in 2010. But Shropshire' side did not claimed that the proposed development would give the land a substantial harm to the significance of the hill fort.
