The ongoing question of what position modern Pagans should take regarding pre-Christian sites and remains continues. Where do we find the balance between a reverence for our religious ancestors, and acknowledging the needs of scientists and preservationists. Two news stories have been developing that explore these issues.

First, the Kennet District Council has given an enforcement notice to the National Trust over ongoing mistreatment of the Avebury Stone circle in Wiltshire. Central to the complaint is the use of the circle by Pagans and “New Age” visitors.

“A spokesman said complaints had been received about bad behaviour caused by the influx of New Age visitors…A council spokesman said: “The council has warned the National Trust that it should not allow overnight camping and caravanning in its car parks because it is a breach of planning control…[Regional director Brendan McCarthy] said: ‘We are all aware of the unsuitability of the current car park for the larger pagan celebrations and the trust is committed to finding an alternative which will be acceptable to all parties.’”

The tension between access and preservation is felt deeply in Britain where several pre-Christian sites are felt to be sacred by the local Pagan community. Eric A. Powell of Archaelogy magazine says that this shared reverence for sites like Avebury and Stonehenge are one of the few uniting features of modern Paganism in Britain.

“What unites them is a respect…for ancient British traditions. Pagans also believe that some archaeological sites are sacred ground, places of spiritual power where celebration, meditation, and communication with spirits and ancestors are all possible. Ritual processions and gathering in large circles to invoke spirits are common pagan observances at ancient sites.”

Pagans in the UK are trying to band together in groups like PEBBLE (The Public Bodies Liaison Committee for British Paganism) to better communicate with government bodies on issues (like access to old stones) of importance. Since the Avebury Stone Circle was made a World Heritage site in 1986 (along with Stonehenge), “reducing visitor erosion” has become an ongoing concern and it remains to be seen how well the managing bodies will be able to find a workable compromise between the needs of “church” and “state”.

The second story concerns reburial of pre-Christian remains. I blogged recently about the quixotic efforts of Chris Warwick (aka Cyt ap Nydden) to stop scientific “grave robbing” of pre-Christian sites and to provide reburial for bodies dug up for research. Now the Oxford Student reports that Warwick has met with a sort of “success” since the Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History has agreed to (temporarily) return the Red Lady of Paviland (a 26,000 year old skeleton) to Wales. But it is clear in the article that Welsh pride and political pressure is more to thank than Warwick’s media stunts.

This issue in the UK has also been taken up by the Council of British Druid Orders who have sent a letter to the English Heritage and the National Trust demanding reburial for pagan remains. Nick Hanks, a Pagan who has worked with both English Heritage and the National Trust feels that their efforts are causing more harm than good.

“There is a serious debate going on about this within the heritage sector and they are listening to Pagans’ concerns, but you would not know that from the tone of the document sent to the National Trust by COBDO…The positions of archaeologist, Druid Council and everybody else should be possible to resolve in a compromise solution. We all respect the remains of our ancestors, we just differ in how to express it. Druids in the past were known as peacemakers and negotiators between warring tribes, it would be nice if the Druid Council could do the same rather than take sides on this issue!”

A scholarly paper that Hanks links to sums up the issue very well.

“Meanings inscribed in ancient ’sacred’ sites are complex; sites have meanings for people which are spiritual, emotional, and political; and construction of meaning cannot be separated from political or pragmatic circumstances surrounding sites. Pagan claims to the past, particularly those which deploy such terms as ‘ancestors’ and which call for the ‘reburial’ of human remains and artefacts, are as much politically motivated as they are spiritually so. But archaeologists cannot claim scientific immunity here since their interpretations of the past are also constructions.”

In the end, it seems that only cool heads and compromise will ensure any sort of middle ground on the issues of access to ancient sites and reburial for pre-Christian remains. But can this attitude be fostered when the press seems to love media stunts and grand gestures instead of incremental change and slow steps towards understanding?

Tags: Paganism