§ 43. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Works what excavations took place last summer at Windmill Hill, near Avebury, with what result; and what further similar work it is proposed to undertake in future in this area.
§ The Minister of Works (Lord John Hope)During the summer of 1959, an investigation of the Long Barrow at Windmill Hill was carried out on behalf of my Department. This site proved to contain no burials, but produced pottery similar to that from Windmill Hill Camp. A report will be published in due course.
No further work is at present planned for this area, apart from the limited excavation of the North Setting at Avebury mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker) on 10th November, 1959.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIn view of the very great archaeological importance of the Avebury Stone Circle and the fact that the Ministry of Works has now virtually for the time being finished its operations at Stonehenge, will the Minister look again at the possibility of an expanded programme of work at Avebury?
§ Lord John HopeOur programme follows the advice of the 1958 Report of the Ancient Monument Board for England, which recommended that work should be started again on the lines which we have adopted for next year. This is probably the best method.