The vandalism at Stonehenge sparked strong reactions

Two activists from the British group Just Stop Oil were caught spraying orange paint on the Stonehenge memorial on Wednesday.

The accident occurred a day before Britons and visitors celebrated the summer solstice at the memorial.

He writes BBCWhich describes the event as dramatic.

Stonehenge is a group of stones in the shape of a circle, and can be traced back to the Bronze Age and Neolithic Age. The memorial is located in remote southwest England. Its meaning is somewhat disputed, but it is believed to have been part of religious practice.

It provokes reactions

Onlookers are said to have screamed and tried to stop the activists, who the group themselves identified as a 21-year-old and a 73-year-old student.

Representatives from above also reacted.

– Shameful vandalism, says Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about the incident.

Archaeologist Mike Betts is among those who find the incident troubling. Bates describes the remains as very weak, and points out that the surfaces contain important historical traces that have not been fully investigated.

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Unconfirmed status

The “Just Stop Oil” statement itself states that the orange paint was from cornmeal, and claims that it will be washed off by rain.

The powder coating was quickly removed using blown air, but archaeologist Bates points out that any damage to the relics is cause for concern.

The police also confirm that they are investigating the case continuously in cooperation with English Heritage, the agency that manages protected areas in England.

Climate activism

The group is not for beginners. They are behind incidents such as vandalism during last year's British Open, and famous works of art.

They state that the motivation behind this measure is to demand a halt to the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.

– We must stand together to defend humanity, otherwise we risk everything, says a spokesperson for the group.

Nick Merriman, chief executive of English Heritage, told the BBC that he respected protest rights, but hoped the group would avoid heritage monuments and museums in the future.