This cow greeted us at Stonehenge as we left the barrows.
I was glad to read that finally work is beginning at Stonehenge. For 30 years plans to enhance the visitor experience at Stonehenge have been discussed, tossed about, and alternately rejected and/or approved. Currently the area surrounding the stones is a hodgepodge of carparks, temporary restroom facilities, a sandwich kiosk and crowded gift shop. The archeologically significant barrows, as well as the curcus, are impossible to appreciate fully, cut off from the stone circle as they are.
The new plans are to build an interpretive center and museum. Many of the artifacts found at Stonehenge are currently in nearby museums. Apart from an audio guide, there is no way to learn more about how Stonehenge may have been built, or why it was built, or even the fact that it took many centuries to complete the various monuments. This particularly affects visual learners, who may find the audio guide lacking.
This cow may have to be relocated, unfortunately. She and her peers are directly in the path of the new lane that will take visitors from a new carpark to the stones, via shuttle bus. The A344 road that runs right next to Stonehenge will be removed altogether, with a new entrance built off the A303. This will allow visitors to fully appreciate the layout of the land that attracted ancient humans to the area in the first place.
Work will be completed in 2014, but in the meantime, visitors will continue to have access to the stones. And to the cows, of course.
Because a visit to an ancient monument just isn't the same without livestock.
