Afarensis is a 3.5-2.8 million year old hominin from the Kada Hadar member of the Hadar formation in the Middle Awash, Ethiopia. He is approximately 41 inches tall, weighs approximately 60 pounds and has a cranial capacity of a whopping 410 cc (approximately). Afarensis is currently considered to be transitional between apes and humans and displays some traits of both. Since he spends a lot of time on the couch watching monster movies, some observers question whether he is an obligate biped (although no one has observed him climbing a tree). He also has a blog called 
Not my sclibling at Aetiology, but the archaeological site in Ireland. Tara holds an important place in Irish history and mythology. It is also an incredibly rich archaeological site and some would argue that it deserves to be a World Heritage Site. Here is the way the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society describes Tara:
The archaeological landscape of Tara - widely acknowledged as "one of the richest and best known archaeological landscapes in Europe" (N3 EIS Vol. 4)- has remained virtually intact for over 6, 000 years. It is, without doubt, one of our nation's most important cultural, historic and archaeological complexes. It was in recognition of this importance that the Government commissioned a pioneering research project (the Discovery Programme) to study the Hill of Tara and its hinterland in 1992.This programme, involving non-intrusive research methods, has not only discovered a large number of new and interesting monuments on the Hill of Tara and in the surrounding countryside, but it has also uncovered a wealth of new data on the nature and importance of the Tara landscape. It demonstrates a constant and coherent vision of ritual function for at least 5, 000 years - a unique ritual landscape that must be preserved for future generations.
The problem is that there are plans to build a road through Tara. They go on to point out that:
The motorway will cut this ancient landscape in two, it will involve a major 26-acre floodlit interchange just 1km from the northern end of the Hill of Tara itself, and it will destroy at least 26 archaeological sites and monuments in this section of the route alone. These sites and monuments - some of which have been described as "complex" and "spectacular" by members of the Discovery Programme - were discovered in the course of a geophysical survey conducted along this 14.5km section of the 62km motorway after the present route was selected. The financial costs and time requirements implicit in investigating this number of sites could be enormous. And these discoveries - we are advised by Conor Newman, Director of the Discovery Programme's Tara Survey - are only "the tip of the iceberg".
Sure enough, as soon as construction started a major find was discovered and construction was temporarily shut down. You can find more about the shut down and the issues involved here (this is an NPR audio clip). You can also go here for more info. Or you can make a donation to help stop this travesty
Afarensis would like to go on record as saying that building a road through Tara is about the stupidest thing he has ever heard and it should be stopped as soon as possible!
Comments
Amen, Afarensis, I happen to live only a few miles from Tara and the site you refer to.
Tara is as important as Stonehenge in the UK, or the tomb complex of Newgrange, farther down the Boyne Valley, but in its prime it was built entirely of earth and wood. Undoubtedly it was once a landscape of sacred sites and trackways, much like Avebury (also in the UK, a henge larger in area than Stonehenge) demanding the most careful and sensitive excavation and mapping.
Unforunately, "progress" has arrived in the shape of a highway that could easily have been built elsewhere. The suspicion is that the route was decided more by who owned what land and who could get the best monetary return for it (landowner, developer or politician) rather than by taking archaeological importance into account.
The best that can happen is a re-routing of the highway. The worst is a photographic record of the site followed by its destruction.
Make no mistake - this find is highly significant. Usually, the state in its best "business friendly" manner lets the archaeologists employed by the road builders decide what is important. It is these people who have highlighted the find, which I understand is a henge or ceremonial circle, maybe of stone, but possibly of wood, in which case I presume only the traces of the beams remain. A "Woodhenge" would be unique in Ireland, perhaps in Europe.
Posted by: toby | May 9, 2007 5:58 PM
Toby - it strikes me as being comparable to Cahokia. According to Conor Newman, on the NPR link, they were finding monuments every 400 meters. This sounds like a site rich in archaeological resources and if they don't put a stop to this...wel, the mind boggles at the loss.
Posted by: afarensis, FCD | May 9, 2007 8:11 PM
Brit Arch followed this whole horrible story a couple of years ago. Its almost unbelievable that somewhere as iconic as Tara should get trashed in this way, so you have to really worry about whats happening at less well-known sites.
Unfortunately, the crass stupidity and greed of politicans and developers is not confined to Ireland. Here in the UK, we are still seeing sites (both archaeological and natural)trashed for 'development', and Stonenge continues to be a national embarrasement, rather than a national treasure.
Posted by: MikeB | May 10, 2007 7:36 AM
Oh fer.....! Well, that's me off to go write nasty letters to Irish politicians. More to the point -- I still have a few links to the Celtic Studies dept. at Aberdeen University; time to see if they're applying any pressure, and if not, why not.
People are right, this short-sighted brand of stupidity isn't just confined to Ireland, sadly. I still cringe when I think that the final resting place of Macbeth -- the real, historical Macbeth, who wasn't actually a bad king at all -- was dug up to build a petrol station. Nothing was saved.
Posted by: Luna_the_cat | May 10, 2007 9:44 AM
This isn't that surprising in Ireland given the heritage of the current government. Bear in mind that the Haughey's wanted to mine Croagh Patrick. While I'm not religious, one has to bear in mind the historical and cultural significance which seems absent from current government thought. Our (Irish) culture is something significant in terms of the Celts and should be treated with some respect. To make a political point, the development that seems to require destruction in Tara is only mandated by the short sighted social planning of the government. Were they to make an effort at regional development we wouldn't have to unearth massive tracts of Leinster when there is open countryside begging development, this land absent of archaeological significance. (Apologies for spelling errors)
Posted by: James Gallagher | May 10, 2007 12:46 PM
I recall reading about the destruction of part of a Norman castle so they could build a motorway a few years ago. Ireland really seems to be behind the times in preserving its built history.
As for woodhenges, they found one in the see off the East coast of England, and there is evidence for several henges made only with wooden poles. The theory goes that for the stone henges, they probably started with wooden poles in the first place.
Posted by: guthrie | May 11, 2007 9:30 AM
press release that was issued on the find from The Campaign to Save Tara. See website for further details http://www.savetara.com
Arrogance and Ineptitude led to M3 Debacle
After the recent announcement of the discovery of a National Monument at Lismullen, the Campaign to Save Tara is calling for any decision on the future of the Henge to be postponed until the Election is over.
As far back as 2001 a Government funded research project reported that the whole area around the Hill of Tara comprised a 'mosaic of monuments' and should be considered as a whole and interconnected archaeological landscape. During the preparation for the Environmental Impact Statement, the NRA's own archaeological advisors stated: 'The monuments around Tara cannot be viewed in isolation, or as individual sites, but must be seen in the context of an intact archaeological landscape, which should not under any circumstances be disturbed, in terms of visual or direct impact on the monuments themselves.' (Margaret Gowan and Co. Ltd, Navan to Dunshaughlan Route Selection, August 2000, paragraph 7.3)
In his presentation to the An Bord Pleánala Oral Hearing (2002) Conor Newman, ex-director of the Discovery Programme said: "... the valley between Tara and Skryne is chock-a-block with archaeological monuments, and interesting and complex ones at that: indeed it is a wonder that with such results appearing at regular intervals along this route, why was the whole route not surveyed."
He said on the discovery of this present monument: "This is a monument of major significance. It compares with Iron Age monuments found at the related royal sites of Emain Macha and Dun Ailinne, and a discovery of this magnitude in a landscape so heavily invested with ceremonial monuments was predicted from the start. The view expressed on MCC's website report that its position beneath the ceremonial complex on the Hill of Tara suggests that it may have served 'smaller or lesser political units' that might somehow have been skulking around the fringes of Tara is frankly asinine."
It is rather surprising that a site the size of Lismullen, where the National Monument was uncovered, did not show up in the geophysical survey but such examinations only reveal the tip of the iceberg as not all archaeological features can be detected by geophysics. This advice went unheeded by the NRA consultants at the beginning of this process. Questions now arise as to the competence and rigour of the original survey. For example, what other areas of the route through the Valley have been inadequately surveyed or the survey results misinterpreted?
Michael Canney of the Campaign to Save Tara said: 'The Lismullen Henge is undoubtedly a major find and its true significance lies in it orientation and proximity to Rath Lugh and the Hill itself. There are clear connections and all the evidence points to this being a major monument located in a large and extensive 'Tara Complex', which extends throughout the Valley.'
'The Government and the NRA rejected the Discovery Programme research during the route selection process and now, three years and €40 million in archaeological fees later, the motorists of Meath are faced with further delays in delivering much needed infrastructure. If the Government had read their own research, rather that favouring the agendas of powerful local figures, the railway would be built and the Tara Valley would have been given the recognition and protection it deserves.'
In a related development Proinsias de Rossa MEP, will raise the matter in the European Parliament on Wednesday next. The petitions committee of the parliament has previously expressed concern about the proposed M3. Mr. de Rossa is keen to ensure that all relevant EU legislation on heritage is applied to the new National Monument. The Labour Party Manifesto, published on Thursday last, explicitly sets out that it is party policy to re-route the most controversial section of the route.
The Campaign to Save Tara is running an election campaign about the Tara/M3 issue. They are seeking written assurances from all parties and local candidates that they will re-route the road should they form part of the next government. The campaign is urging its supporters to 'Vote for Tara' on the basis of these written commitments.
Muireann Nà Bhrolcháin
On behalf of the Campaign to Save Tara
Posted by: Muireann Ni Bhrolchain | May 13, 2007 2:03 PM
Muireann - Thanks for the info!
Posted by: afarensis, FCD | May 13, 2007 5:12 PM