It’s disheartening to examine one other Bronze Age cup and ring marked stone being destroyed in Wales. Nonetheless, this story reaches a brand new degree of repugnancy, as a result of the 52-year-old-vandal filmed himself destroying the 4,500 years previous standing stone, and he posted it on social media for likes.

Filming oneself destroying archaeology is an act pushed by a mixture of misguided motivations, however on this case, the cultural vandalism was an act of “attention-seeking.” Such acts can stem from a lack of information concerning the historic and cultural significance of archaeological websites, and a disregard for preserving our shared human heritage, however on this case, the person filmed himself, seemingly to garner consideration on social media.

Courting again to the early Bronze Age [2500 BC], the buried monument was located on Eglwysilan hill, a 355-meter [1164 feet] excessive rise within the Caerphilly county borough, South Wales. The 2 massive sandstones featured shallow cup-like depressions surrounded by concentric rings etched into the surfaces. Whereas these stones are discovered throughout the British Isles, the aim of the cups and rings stays a topic of hypothesis.

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Screenshot from Sketchfab 3D mannequin rendering of the stone, taken earlier than the vandalism occurred.  Mynydd Eglwysilan. (Sketchfab)

Destroying the Cup and Ring Enigma

Many researchers consider cup and ring marks maintain non secular and ritual significance. Nonetheless, others recommend they belong to an astronomical or navigational system, serving Bronze Age communities as territorial boundaries or route markers. This idea was championed by archaeologist Ronald Morris who advised the cup-like depressions might have held oil, which might be set alight, making a ceremonial or ritualistic illumination, or maybe guiding distant vacationers.

A BBC article explains that Julian Baker, 52, of Abertridwr, Caerphilly, posted video on Fb displaying himself intentionally separating the rock artwork panel from the stone, irreparably damaging the art work. A spokesperson for the Welsh authorities heritage physique CADW stated Baker ruined a part of the art work “past restore,” and that it’s now “misplaced perpetually.” And whereas some proof of the cup and rings stays, the importance and worth of the monument has been “considerably diminished”.

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Julian Baker, who filmed himself damaging a uncommon 4,500-year-old #BronzeAge cupmark monument on #Eglwysilan Mountain in Caerfili, South Wales is fined however pointblank refuses to say why he did it.

— Chris Lovegrove @[email protected] (@calmgrove) August 31, 2023

When Felony Costs Don’t Actually Match The Crime

Baker admitted intentionally exposing and damaging the Bronze Age monument and he was charged by the Newport Magistrates Court for having broken the traditional rock artwork. For his attention-seeking crime, Baker was instructed to pay £4,400 ($5600) compensation and was given a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for 2 years. Bakers prosecution represents “the primary of its sort” in Wales, below “section 28 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.“

Whereas £4,400 appears like a variety of money, it represents solely £1.00 a 12 months because the monument was carved. These in favor of deterrents, would possibly agree that fines nearer to £10.00 a 12 months would assist defend historical monuments. And if criminals can’t pay up, then maybe they may serve a 12 months in jail for each millennium of heritage they destroyed.

The Curse of Archaeological Vandalism

The UK is cursed with vandalism of archaeology, stemming from ignorance concerning the significance of those websites, fueled by a lack of expertise and respect for the nation’s cultural legacy. One other latest instance of the willful vandalism of archaeology in Wales is the case of Maen Llia, a Bronze Age standing stone marked with cups and rings, located between Heol Senni and Ystradfellte.

In 2020, Wales Online reported that the long-lasting 3.7 meters [12.14 feet] tall standing stone had been spray painted with a “smiley face”. Natalie Ward, Heritage Officer for Brecon Beacons Nationwide Park Authority, stated:

“The one who did this may occasionally properly assume it was innocent enjoyable however archaeological websites like Maen Llia are fragile and inflicting harm to a Scheduled Historic Monument is a legal offence.”

The psychological situation that leads people to vandalize archaeology doesn’t have a proper psychiatric prognosis, but it surely might be related to varied psychological elements like impulsivity, an absence of empathy, sensation-seeking tendencies, and a disregard for social norms and the results of 1’s actions. However when this habits is posted on social media, like Julian Barker did, it suggests a have to really feel highly effective, or a deep need for consideration, which he’s now getting.

Prime picture: Mynydd Eglwysilan, the hill close to the placement of the broken stone. Supply: Colin Smith / CC BY-SA 2.0

By Ashley Cowie