The standing stone, which is believed to date from 3,500BC, is considered an extremely important national monument and features extensively in ancient texts. The granite stone is associated with the inauguration rites for the Kings of Tara and was moved to its current position in the early 19th century.
The monument was reported to be damaged last weekend, but it is unknown when the attack occurred.
An archaeologist from the National Monuments Service examined the monument this week and concluded it had been struck – possibly with a hammer or similar instrument – at 11 places on all four faces of the stone. Fragments of the standing stone were also removed.
There is a picture of some of the damage up on Facebook (the picture is public); the blows to the stone are quite clear, and while they're not so damaging that the monument itself is damaged beyond repair, the damage they've done to a monument that's probably a good 5,000 years or so is irreparable. It could just be mindless vandalism, but more worryingly (as far as I'm concerned) is the idea that the vandalism is the result of souvenir hunters trying to get a few pieces to keep or sell.
Whoever did it, I hope their disrespect comes back to bite them in the arse.
It was probably some f-ing newagers doing "spiritual" tourism. They probably stole pieces so they can sell them. Or wear them as bling. Keep an eye on eBay, friends. The greed of this sort knows no bounds. May all the rage and wrath of the ancestors, and that of the Spirit Women who guard the Sovereignty of the land, fall upon their heads.
ReplyDeleteI've met a fair few newagers online who will unashamedly admit they've hacked off chunks of rock from stone circles and the like - "because the spirits told them to" (someone actually said that once).
ReplyDeleteWhat worries me about the idea of it being spiritual tourism is that there may be other sites next on the list. It's greed, arrogance and entitlement that does this.
Oh wow. Just fucking wow. I can think of a few colourful things that these assholes deserve, and I am sure the guardians of Ireland will bring justice to them. By no means am I an expert, but looking at the marks on The Stone, it would appear that they were trying to come home with trinkets as opposed to defacing it. Perhaps it is time for a full on campaign to educate folks. I know that it has been done for some sacred sites, but way too many New Agers seem to have a sense of self entitlement that just ends up damaging these sacred sites.
ReplyDeleteI remember when the Rollright Stones got vandalised down in England, they covered the stones with paint. It was no small job to get the stuff off and was hugely damaging. If they wanted to fuck with the stone they could've done something like that, or else I think they would've gone for something heavier. So yeah, I really think whoever did this was looking for trinkets. There aren't many folks who happen to visit ancient monuments who just happen to have a hammer handy so it doesn't seem to have been done for spontaneous shits and giggles. This was definitely premeditated. It stinks.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable. "The spirits told me to"-- ?really? If the spirits told you to jump off a bridge... oh, forget it...
ReplyDeletei do wonder, though: the thing is so old- has this happened before, and weathered its own repair over time?