Who will Speak for Historic Sites?

I read recently that some people in Iceland are protesting the building of a road that links the Alftanes peninsula to the Reykjavik suburb of Gardabaer because the construction would harm elves.  I remember during the boom years of the “Celtic Tiger” in Ireland there were often protests over constructing a road or a building because the fairies would be disturbed. 

Not only were fairies being disturbed by road building but so were historic sites in Ireland.  The construction of the M3 motorway that runs north of Dublin through County Meath provoked controversy because it runs right by the Hill of Tara and through an archeological rich region that has been described as Ireland’s equivalent to Egypt’s Valley of the Dead.  Another road, the M50 motorway ran right over Carrickmine Castle. Artifacts from the castle’s site include coins, ceramics, weapons and skeletons.

One characteristic that elves, fairies and historic sites share is they need humans to speak up for them.  Far too often historic buildings are razed to make way for a road, an apartment complex or a mall.

The question is what part, if any, should reenactors play in preserving sites?  Does our mandate to educate the public mean raising their awareness that historic places are at risk? In the late summer of 2002 a group of activists called The Carrickminers occupied the castle’s site. Engaging in such an occupation might be an extreme action for reenactors but certainly holding fundraisers to help preserve sites is something we can do.

Reenactors have access to a great number of people.  First in their own reenactment community, second the public they come in contact with during their appearances.  Some groups may have contacts in their local government from working with officials in putting on festivals; others may have contacts with the media. We can use these contacts to get the word out about endangered sites and to educate the people about the value of these sites.  Let’s get the dialogue going.  Words sometime become action.  Action often yields results that might save a site or two.

 Let us use our enthusiasm for history to be the voice for historic sites.