Engineers have reopened a tunnel dug in 1968 that goes deep inside the ancient monument of Silbury Hill in Wiltshire. The tunnel was the last of many made over the centuries by archaeologists and opportunists exploring the site. Parts of Silbury Hill are thought to be collapsing because of all the tunnels, so engineers are planning to stabilise the 5,000-year-old structure, believed to be the world’s largest man-made prehistoric mound. It will take around four months and hundreds of tonnes of chalk.

Heavy rains in May 2000 caused substantial damage to the hill, with the collapse of an 18th century shaft. Archaeologists will be going into the hill hoping that modern science can solve the mystery of why the hill was built in the first place.

I first wrote about Silbury Hill in March 2005, less than five months after I began blogging. Click here for the latest BBC news story about this most marvellous remnant of our pagan heritage.

As this is a sacred site to people such as myself, I only hope this time round the archaeologists treat it with a little more respect and save it for generations to come to view and explore.

Currently listening to: Squirrel Nut Zippers – Bedlam Ballroom – Don’t Fix It