Stonehenge Artifacts Crumbling in Museum

Hundreds of pre-historic pots dating from 2000 BC to 800 BC excavated from the Stonehenge area are literally crumbling in the museum basement where they are stored due to a lack of funding, reports the London Times.

Most of the pots were discovered between 1800 and 1810 by Sir Richard Colt Hoare and William Cunnington, two early pioneers of British archaeology. They now sit on basement shelves at the Devizes Museum in Wiltshire and are in such a bad state of decay that the museum has applied to the National Lottery Heritage Fund in an effort top save the artifacts from literally falling to pieces said the newspaper.

Some of the pots were lined with an inch of cement in 19th century attempt to hold pieces of the broken pots together. In some cases, bicycle spokes were used as supports.

Many of the pots in peril are richly decorated, suggesting that they may have been used for some prior purpose before being used as interment vessels for ashes fo the dead.

Unlike other archaeological excavations during this time period, Hoare and Cunnington kept meticulous records of the circumstances of each find.

The London Times says it may take up to 6 months for the conservation work on the pots to be completed assuming funding occurs.