Archaeology - Standing in the Way of Progress?

Earlier today I came across a short news article about the destruction of two temples in the Walled City area of Old Jaipur to make way for the Metro system corridor proposed from Chandpole to Badi Chaupar. The temple sites were apparently centuries old and the destruction has been the focus of protests by local citizens. Already, people on Social Media are decrying this as a hideous act, destruction of cultural heritage and cynical expansionism in the modern world.

Image: Dainik Bhaskar

Idols and statues have been removed from the sites and the demolition work has been subject to a decision by the High Court, deciding in favour of the plans to create the Metro corridor which will see the destruction of 13 temples. Only 6 priests have agreed to the action.

Initially, upon reading the article from the Times of India, I was outraged! 'How could they?'

However, very quickly, thoughts drifted a little closer to home - the Metro and train network in Newcastle upon Tyne...

Newcastle is, surprisingly enough, named after a Castle and Keep started as a wooden motte and bailey around AD 1080 and built in stone between 1172 and 1250. This eponymous castle is an impressive structure and the first time I saw it, it made a strong impression on me.

It was not the architecture of this fortress which surprised me though, rather the proximity of the railway to the castle struck me as bizarre! 'How on earth did anyone get permission to do that?' I wondered. The main rail line between Edinburgh and London not only runs past the Castle Keep but smashes its way through the bailey of the castle, splitting the keep from the Black Gate, the bailey!

After enquiring with friends I was even more aghast to learn that the Newcastle Central Station not only lies over a section of Hadrian's Wall but is, in part, constructed from masonry lifted from what is now a UNESCO monument!

 

Newcastle Central Station: Green Newcastle Keep and Bailey: Red

Why was this allowed to happen? 'Because of the needs and priorities of society at the time!' came the response. The Victorians of Newcastle were enterprising, forward thinking and embracing a world of enterprise which not only connected them with the world via the River Tyne but which demanded decent and reliable access north and south to the capitals of England and Scotland.

The challenge was then issued: 'Can you imagine Britain, economically, politically, geographically, if this hadn't been allowed to happen?' Of-course, I could not imagine it - haha! For years, I depended on this section of rail network to get to University in Durham. It was (and is) the only reason I even first went to Newcastle - because the train could take me!

Mock-Gothic archway, built as a C19th rail-solution to the
'choking' effect of Medieval town walls - Conwy, North Wales.

At their inception, these changes were riding the crest of a technological and societal wave - Towns and cities across the UK faced huge and exciting challenges when considering how they would handle the clashing interests of the old world and the new.

Towns such as York, Conwy and Chester negotiated these challenges in interesting and variously inventive or sensitive ways. Newcastle (whether because the people were forward-looking or because it was the 'unimportant' North East of England) changed rather more dramatically with dramatic, destructive (as well as creative) consequences. It was just a matter of time and place...

Hopefully, the link in my rambling is clear: It occurs to me that maybe this is that time/ place for the Metro network of Jaipur? Naturally, senseless and reckless destruction should always be opposed but should archaeologically or religiously significant sites stand in the way of infrastructure which will benefit people now and well into the future? Or perhaps, having trod that path already, other parts of the world should learn from our 'solutions', the successes and the mistakes?

This is one of the most important questions facing people who love history and who work with archaeology. The issues are complex and the answers are not straightforward but so long as we are wrestling with these questions, we can be sure that our perspective will not become stuffy and antiquated - We won't need to be brushed aside to make way for the 'new'!

- Mr Soup.