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The Ancient Sacred Landscape Network (ASLaN)Any place can be a sacred site if a group of people regard it as such. To be of more general significance, however, it also has to be given value by a wider community, and the greatest importance should be given to those valued by the nation. Thus, an ancient or historic monument becomes of general importance if it is scheduled as a site to be protected as part of the national heritage, especially if no established religious group is responsible for its upkeep. Where such places become vulnerable due to damage through overuse or misuse, then the role of a network concerned with the protection of sacred sites becomes especially relevant, and urgent. (Ronald Hutton 1997ce)  The purchase of the Rollright Stones brought
together many of the usual suspects concerned with sacred sites - and some new
ones, like the Church of England in the form of the Diocese of Oxford. An
informal stream of information about sacred sites across the country, from
damaged sites to sites with informal guardians, was spontaneously created, and
the value of such a network was recognised by Karin and John Attwood, the
initiators of the Rollright Stones Appeal (schucks - K & J). They invited
some of the people contacted during the Appeal to the first formal meeting of
groups and individuals with an interest in sacred sites, and six months later,
a dynamic group approach to caring for our sacred sites is evolving.
The Ancient Sacred Landscape Network (ASLaN) aims to be a national focus for the exchange of information between the public, local groups and national bodies. We will be a contact point for information on local initiatives and problems, for communication between bodies involved in the ownership and administration of sacred sites, and for the circulation of results of the Network's discussions with other professional and official bodies. The ultimate aim is - the preservation and protection of sacred sites and their setting, and maintenance of access to them. This is a good point at which to read the ASLaN Sacred Sites Charter below. Groups involved so far are Dragon Environmental Network, Cornish Earth Mysteries Group, Save Our Sacred Sites, the Rollright Trust, Pagan Federation, Fellowship of Isis, Diocese of Oxford, English Heritage, The National Trust and the University of Bristol. |
The ASLaN Sacred Sites Charter
Please take care when visiting sacred sites to leave them as
the next visitor would like to find them. Respect the land and all its
inhabitants - spirits, people, animals, plants and stones. Digging holes for any purpose will damage plants and probably insects and archaeological remains. Damaging any aspect of nature will not please the Spirit of Place. Damaging archaeology may upset the official guardians or owners of the site and lead to it being closed to all. Lighting fires can cause similar damage to digging. A fire can damage standing stones - if they get too hot, they split. Fires can spread quickly in summer, killing wildlife, and it can be very difficult to make sure a fire is truly out. Heat, candle wax and graffiti damage moss and lichens which can take decades to recover. The Spirits of Place are more likely to be displeased at fire damage than upset that you haven't lit one. If an offering seems appropriate please think about all its effects. Don't leave artificial materials. Choose your offerings carefully so that they can't be mistaken for litter. Please don't bury things. Please don't leave biodegradable materials that may be offensive as they decay. If the site is already overloaded with offerings consider the effects of adding more. Please don't take anything, except litter, from a site. Much of the vegetation around sacred sites is unusual or rare so don't pick flowers. Don't take stones - they may be an important part of the site in ways which aren't obvious. In times past it was traditional to leave no traces of any ritual because of persecution. This tradition is worth reviving because it shows reverence to nature and the Spirits of Place. Don't change the site, let the site change you. ASLaN can be contacted at: Andy Norfolk, The Cottage, Crowan, Praze, CAMBORNE TR14 9NB (please enclose SAE) Unfortunately the ASLAN web site has disppeared |
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