Crocodile tears from the National Park

Oh dear oh dear -- the Pembs Coast National Park has gone on the record to bewail the "damage" being done as a result of excessive visitor pressure on "monuments" like Rhosyfelin, Carn Goedog and Waun Mawn. This is the heavily promoted press item which has been hitting social media as well:

https://www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/news/park-authority-urges-visitors-of-archaeology-sites-to-treadlightly/?fbclid=IwAR1IfmYS99ypGhRmCoa_RKdnSl7010QezUPhUE1wdDYAyVxof174NQTNNCw

PARK AUTHORITY URGES VISITORS OF ARCHAEOLOGY SITES TO TREAD LIGHTLY

A surge of interest in Pembrokeshire’s archaeological and historical sites has prompted the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to issue a reminder to the general public to respect archaeological monuments and their surrounding communities, and leave no trace of their visit.

Over recent months, an increase in visitors to sites such as Waun Mawn, Craig Rhosyfelin and Carn Goedog has led to access issues and evidence of damage.

Waun Mawn was thrust into the limelight earlier this year by a BBC documentary, which theorised that this may have been the original source of some of Stonehenge’s famed bluestones. Since then, footfall in the area has increased, along with reports of careless behaviour creating problems for local communities and the sites themselves.

Some of the issues faced so far include fires being lit, stones being damaged or removed, gates left open on working farmland and inconsiderate parking on narrow verges and in front of farm gates.

Community Archaeologist Tomos Ll. Jones said:

“While it’s great that people want to explore our past, we must be mindful that these monuments, which have been in place for thousands of years, are of national and international importance and cannot be replaced.

“Many of these monuments are protected from disturbance by law, and are situated on privately-owned land and spaces with natural designations. As such, disturbance, damage or removal of material would constitute a criminal offence.

“Visitors should also spare a thought for those who live and work in the area, and make every effort to follow the Countryside Code, including parking in appropriate places.”

A Heritage Watch scheme to safeguard heritage in the National Park area was set up in 2018, if you would like to find out more, including how to help visit our HeritageWatch page.

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This is all a bit rich, since the NPA itself has -- in spite of my protests -- been at the forefront of flagging up Professor Mike Parker Pearson as a great archaeological celebrity (giving him free rein at all of their NPA Archaeology Days in recent years) and promoting the three named sites as extraordinary parts of our heritage. It's all nonsense, and they know it -- but they have been promoting "the Stonehenge connection" for all they are worth for the last decade, with a good deal of purple prose and scant regard for scientific evidence.

As far as the three named sites are concerned, Rhosyfelin and Carn Goedog are certainly NOT archaeological monuments of national and international importance, and nobody should pretend that they are. Indeed, Rhosyfelin is protected as a geological / geomorphological feature:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Rhos-y-felin

As such, of course it should be respected and protected, but not under false pretences.

As for Waun Mawn, that's probably not an "archaeological monument" either, in spite of what MPP and his colleagues might tell us. The evidence is scanty in the extreme that there ever was a giant stone circle here, and the evidence for any Stonehenge connection is non-existent. It is however an area rich in archaeological features, including several standing stone settings.

So -- disingenuous claptrap and crocodile tears from the NPA.  It's about time the organization controlled the excesses of its archaeologists and took proper responsibility for its own actions........