From Herstmonceux Observatory…..Meet The Ancestors….
by Bernie Bell - 07:41 on 30 September 2024
From Herstmonceux Observatory….
Brilliant News!!!!
“We've just had some important news I'm keen to share.
The 20th Century Society (C20) has told us they are considering shortlisting Herstmonceux Observatory for their biannual Risk List, which highlights the UK's top 10 most threatened 20th and 21st century buildings.
In his email to the campaign team, Campaigns Director Oli Marshall adds, "It’s one of our most high profile media events, and the next list is due to be published in Feb / Mar 2025. Potential candidates are being shortlisted now, with a decision on the final 10 being made a little later in the year."
The campaign team reached out to C20 because, as well as the observatory site's astronomical significance, it is also an important part of Britain's 20th century architectural heritage.
C20 are currently following up with Jennifer Medves at Queens to raise their concerns and to enquire about the scope of their operations and strategic review, with reference to the observatory buildings.
When we hear any more, we'll post to the group. This could be exactly what we need to raise our media profile.
For those of you not familiar with C20, the organization was founded in 1979, as a direct response to growing interest in C20th architecture and to complement the preservation work of the Victorian Society, which was founded in 1959.
The Society "campaigns to protect the buildings and design that characterise C20th Britain; helping as many people as possible to appreciate their importance and beauty."
The current Risk List:
Buildings at risk – The Twentieth Century Society
The Risk List is the Societies’ annual compilation of the top 10 most th
Meet The Ancestors….
Another good one from Steve Drury…
https://earthlogs.org/2024/09/26/a-new-timeline-for-modern-humans-colonisation-of-europe/
My tuppenceworth – first appeared in m’blog on the 11th of December 2022….. http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16052
“The Lion/Man…..
I watched ‘Raiders of the Lost Past’ presented by Janina Ramirez – the episode about the Lion/Man – I’d seen it before, but a good thing is worth watching again – and this is A GOOD THING…. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008c5c
Some thoughts…..the initial excavation of the Stadel Cave - and the words “cleared the space” made me wince – as with Skara Brae https://theorkneynews.scot/page/3/?s=Skara+Brae+Bernie+Bell where it’s recorded that….
"Traill noted that Watt had 'entirely cleared out the rubbish from four houses.'
Where did they dump the 'rubbish' from Skara Brae? And from the Stadel Cave? I wonder if there might some kind of record of these excavations, somewhere, where someone actually mentions where the 'rubbish' was taken to. Also, in the years in between folk might have found bits and pieces and taken them home as they do – as the child found a piece of the Lion/Man years later when playing in the Cave.
And, as with Skara Brae, think of what might have been discovered by investigating the ‘rubbish’ using today’s methods of excavation, examination and conservation? https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/07/29/jo-mckenzies-layers-of-colour/
The Lion/Man is often considered to be the main find from the Cave, but….what about that horse….that tiny horse….imagine holding it – stroking its neck…...
A strange business. Himmler had the idea that the finds in the cave would prove that ‘pure’ German people originated in the Swabian Jura, where the Lion/Man Cave is situated. But …the understanding is that the people who lived in the Cave originally came from the East as the ice retreated. From the East? Racial purity? Once again this shows how crazy, crazy, crazy all fanatics are.
I can’t resist it…
‘Hitler has only got one ball
Goering has two but they are small
Himmler, has something similar
But Goebbels has no balls at all.’
To change the subject….what would archaeologists do without cigar boxes? Or, these days - take-away tubs.
And now – to the Lion/ Man. Thing is – to me - it has the head of a female lion, and reminds me of the heads on the arm-rests of the statue found at Catal Hoyuk……. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seated_Woman_of_%C3%87atalh%C3%B6y%C3%BCk
Female lions – lionesses – oh yes.
Flutes were also found in the cave – flutes – music – takes us out of ourselves. Carving figurines – art – music – imagination – people.
Janina then went on to appreciate the Hohle Fels carving of a woman - and she noted that there is a loop instead of a head – suggesting that it might have been worn around the neck as an amulet. I thought maybe around the waist? A woman hoping to conceive wears this around her waist – hanging – fertility magic?
And then we met the Sami man – the Wolf man – and it did me good to see and hear him. A wonder, in himself. And his words reminded me of ‘The Once and Future King’ by T H Whyte, where Arthur becomes other animals – as well as human.
A very FULL programme, which I’ll watch again - and again."
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