AN IMPORTANT archaeological site in Town could be lost because of a row between the owner and the Environment Department. Remains dating from 4000 to 2000 BC are evident in a courtyard surrounded by the Swan Inn, Bank of Bermuda and accountants Lince Salisbury. They are threatened even though the owner wants to preserve them as part of a new development.

When accountant Michael Fattorini bought the site three years ago, it had permission for an office development. But site investigations uncovered a unique stone cairn.

He then shelved the plans to expand his office into the site and proposed a car park with public viewing and access for academics.

‘I fail to understand its stance in reality. Here is someone looking to be supportive of our heritage, saying there’s a site and rather than develop it I’m happy to preserve it,’ said Mr Fattorini. ‘The Environment Department is just saying no and giving it no support whatsoever.’

Various ideas for the project from architects Lovell Ozanne have been put forward since Mr Fattorini bought the property.

‘It should have some feeling for these things. They allow the Royal Bank of Scotland and Admiral Park, all the glazed buildings, and that’s fine, but we just want to preserve what’s here,’ he said.

‘I’d like the Environment Department to acknowledge the fact there’s something worth preserving and be supportive of the plans.’

The site is the only one of its type in the Channel Islands and its importance has been verified by visiting archaeologists.

A letter to the Guernsey Press from someone concerned about the condition of the buildings adjacent to the Swan prompted Mr Fattorini to highlight the situation and the site’s importance.

States archaeologist Heather Sebire carried out investigations on the site three years ago when an office development was planned.

‘That was a frustratingly long time ago; the more excited she got the more we put the thoughts about the office development on the backburner,’ said Mr Fattorini.

‘It’s important; I’ve always had an interest in these sort of things. To think of the scandal over the Markets and the prison being dealt with as it is, it just seems wrong if it is something one can do something about.’

There was going to be a three-storey office on the site with parking on the ground floor.

Mr Fattorini would like to have parking around the archaeological remains, which would be covered with glass, with a viewing window in an exterior wall for the public to view the remains.

‘The Environment Department won’t countenance it, just saying ﾓno, you have to build on it because it’s detrimental to the area if it’s left openﾔ.’

The site was investigated because it is located in a promising area. Royal Hotel investigations found prehistoric material.

It is also only 70 metres from known Roman buildings, on the northern extent of the medieval town.

‘We started digging a very small trench, finding typical Victorian garden debris and modern garden debris. We got a little bit of medieval material, then down into a Roman level, which wasn’t surprising,’ said Mrs Sebire.

‘There was evidence of salt working, bricquetage earthen work vessels used to evaporate salt in typically the early Roman period. Then sealed under that we came down into a stone-built cairn, which turned out to be quite substantial.’

The investigation only uncovered part of the cairn, which is thought to be triangular. It may run under the buildings into the Canichers and possibly under the more-modern buildings.

Cairns, a mound of stones associated with memorials or markers, are associated with burials, although there is no evidence yet of that.

There is evidence of agricultural work, with ancient plough marks, leading Mrs Sebire to believe it could be a clearance cairn, part of prehistoric land management.

‘It’s significant and different, and totally different to the dolmens of a similar period,’ she said, adding that the closest similar example would be in Northern France.

An Environment Department spokesman said that while he could not comment on confidential planning issues, the department would welcome the opportunity to talk to Mr Fattorini about options for

the site.