MOTnews 50 (06/02/2004)

Nature conservation versus heritage preservation or vice versa?

We have taken a report from a British newspaper to show the readers of MOT news that it is never easy to adopt an unequivocal position. There is no black-and-white in the world of "conservation and preservation for the future".

The growing badger population in an English county is causing problems. The protection of nature risks crossing the path of heritage protection. The tunnels that these badgers make are threatening to undermine hundreds of prehistoric burial sites and thus destroy them.

Badgers used to be hunted. Their meat was eaten and their fur was used to make shaving brushes and other things. Today, free from the threat of man, the badger population is growing fast and these little animals are now happily digging lots of tunnels, a lot of them under archaeological sites of world importance.

Readers who have a simple and nature-friendly solution to this would do well to send it in to the British Heritage Council.

GRANDMOTHER'S RECIPES

Cheap sorbet or inventiveness in an age without fridges?

At first sight it looks like a tip from some "Miser's Handbook" from around 200 years ago, but we often forget that we have not always had the convenience of an electric fridge or freezer. Not so long ago, man had to rely on real snow and ice to store his food, or to make a delicious ice-cream, as you will see below.

"Take some compote or jam (or better still, borrow some from your neighbours). When it snows, find a place where the snow is still virginlike white and mix some fresh snow with the jam or compote. Enjoy this delightful, and cheap, sorbet!"

SAY WHAT?

In this MOT-news item we try to explain proverbs and sayings that have their roots in our technical history. Similar proverbs are found in different languages, but each language has it's own typical sayings. Therefore we do not translate this item in English.

KIDS news: something to tell your children this evening

Spring fun at the MOT.

During spring half-term, from 21 to 29 February, the museum world will treat families with children to the "Krokuskriebels" spring activities. This is also the case for our Museum, where you can register for the popular "Signs in stone" workshop together with your parents.

Participants will be initiated to the world of archaeological research. They will learn a number of techniques for copying the signs, and then work on a piece of stone themselves. All participants will also be given the opportunity to design a house sign for their own use. E-mail or phone MOT for further information or to register, info@mot.be - 02 270 81 11.