Attention Seeker Destroys Ancient Monument And Posts Act

It is disheartening to read about another Bronze Age cup and ring marked stone being destroyed in Wales. However, this story reaches a new level of repugnancy, because the 52-year-old-vandal filmed himself destroying the 4,500 years old standing stone, and he posted it on social media for likes.

Filming oneself destroying archaeology is an act driven by a mix of misguided motivations, but in this case, the cultural vandalism was an act of “attention-seeking. ” Such acts can stem from a lack of understanding about the historical and cultural significance of archaeological sites, and a disregard for preserving our shared human heritage, but in this case, the man filmed himself, seemingly to garner attention on social media.

Dating back to the early Bronze Age [2500 BC], the buried monument was situated on Eglwysilan hill, a 355-meter [1164 feet] high rise in the Caerphilly county borough, South Wales. The two large sandstones featured shallow cup-like depressions surrounded by concentric rings etched into the surfaces. While these stones are found across the British Isles, the purpose of the cups and rings remains a subject of speculation.

Baker admitted deliberately exposing and damaging the Bronze Age monument and he was charged by the Newport Magistrates Court for having damaged the ancient rock art. For his attention-seeking crime, Baker was instructed to pay £4,400 ($5600) compensation and was given a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. Bakers prosecution represents “the first of its kind” in Wales, under “section 28 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. "

https://www.ancient-ori ... ilan-0019196