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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Tunnel open again at Silbury hill | Tunnel open again at Silbury hill |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Engineers have reopened a tunnel that goes deep inside the ancient monument of Silbury Hill in Wiltshire. | Engineers have reopened a tunnel that goes deep inside the ancient monument of Silbury Hill in Wiltshire. |
| The tunnel, dug in 1968, was the last of many made over the centuries by archaeologists exploring the site. | The tunnel, dug in 1968, was the last of many made over the centuries by archaeologists exploring the site. |
| Engineers are planning to stabilise the 5,000-year-old structure, which is believed to be the world's largest man-made prehistoric mound. | Engineers are planning to stabilise the 5,000-year-old structure, which is believed to be the world's largest man-made prehistoric mound. |
| Archaeologists will also try to unlock the site's ancient secrets and find out how, why and when it was built. | Archaeologists will also try to unlock the site's ancient secrets and find out how, why and when it was built. |
| Earlier this year, archaeologists found traces of a Roman settlement at the landmark. | Earlier this year, archaeologists found traces of a Roman settlement at the landmark. |
| English Heritage, which is conducting the stabilising work, believes there was a Roman community at Silbury Hill about 2,000 years ago. It says the site may have been a sacred place of pilgrimage. | English Heritage, which is conducting the stabilising work, believes there was a Roman community at Silbury Hill about 2,000 years ago. It says the site may have been a sacred place of pilgrimage. |
| "We don't know exactly what it was for but it was probably part of a ceremonial and sacred landscape which centered on the Avebury henge," said an English Heritage spokeswoman. | "We don't know exactly what it was for but it was probably part of a ceremonial and sacred landscape which centered on the Avebury henge," said an English Heritage spokeswoman. |
| English Heritage is conducting stabilisation work at the site | English Heritage is conducting stabilisation work at the site |
| The 130ft Neolithic mound near Avebury - one of Europe's largest prehistoric monuments - is thought to have been created some 3,000 years earlier. | The 130ft Neolithic mound near Avebury - one of Europe's largest prehistoric monuments - is thought to have been created some 3,000 years earlier. |
| Heavy rains in May 2000 caused substantial damage to the hill, with the collapse of an 18th century shaft. | Heavy rains in May 2000 caused substantial damage to the hill, with the collapse of an 18th century shaft. |
| Parts of the ancient site are thought to be collapsing because of the tunnels dug by archaeologists over many centuries. | Parts of the ancient site are thought to be collapsing because of the tunnels dug by archaeologists over many centuries. |
| After prising open the tunnel's sealed door on Friday, engineers are expected to spend four months, filling the tunnels with hundreds of tonnes of chalk to stabilise the structure. | After prising open the tunnel's sealed door on Friday, engineers are expected to spend four months, filling the tunnels with hundreds of tonnes of chalk to stabilise the structure. |
| Archaeologists will also be going into the hill, hoping that modern science can solve the mystery of why the hill was built in the first place. | Archaeologists will also be going into the hill, hoping that modern science can solve the mystery of why the hill was built in the first place. |