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28 October 2014

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Tags used to protect moorland treasures

Celtic Cross

Garden makeover programmes are being blamed for an increase in the theft of ancient artefacts from Dartmoor.

Electronic tags are being used to help protect valuable stone crosses and troughs in the area.

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REMEMBER

Dartmoor is one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Britain.

Never disturb an archaeological site or structure by removing stones or moving them around.

A pile of stones is not just a pile of stones. A moment's carelessness can destroy hundreds of years of history.

Many of the monuments on the moor are protected by law making it an offence to damage or interfere with them in any way.

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High-tech electronic tags are being used to help protect some of Dartmoor's ancient artefacts from thieves.

It's thought garden makeover programmes on television could be to blame for the increased threat to the Moor's stone crosses and troughs which can fetch high prices at auction.

Learn more about the history of Dartmoor's stone crosses in Tony Beard's Dartmoor Diary

In one recent example thieves used a four-wheel drive vehicle to try to remove a cross from the high Moor.

New security measures are now in place to ensure they stay where they belong.

Officials from the Dartmoor National Park Authority say the popularity of TV garden series could be triggering more thefts.

Jane Marchand, an archaeologist with the park authority, said: "Unfortunately we have lost a number of artefacts and there has been a recent attempt to remove a cross from the moor.

Crosses and troughs can fetch high prices at auction.

"It is hard to say who is to blame, but I think it's an interest in garden ornaments from TV gardening shows.

"If you look through auction sales they very often have granite objects for sale."

The Dartmoor National Park Authority has given each artefact a tiny electronic tag.

The new measures will mean any stolen artefacts can be traced using an electronic scanner.

A microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, is inserted into the granite so it is invisible.

Ms Marchand said: "I think it's very sad that we have to do this.

"I can't understand how anyone could think of removing these things.

"But there is some strange irony that we are using the latest technology to help protect these very ancient artefacts."

The park authority is working closely with the police, and is also urging auction houses to check the origins of items offered for sale.

First published: 15th April 2004