The £6million Marble Arch Mound

• IN centuries to come, archaeologists will try to uncover the secrets of the Marble Arch compound.

The famous arch appears to be the remnant of an extinct warlike tribe, but there is evidence of the emergence of a more peaceful but extravagant tribe whom we can call The Mound People, allied to the more important Party People.

There is archaeological evidence of the construction of a huge mound of earth, similar to those examples of geometric earthworks seen in the Netherlands.

Cave paintings have long since disappeared, but why was this mound constructed?

Was it a fortification?

What novel construction techniques and craftspeople were imported?

Was there a priestly clan?

Was it connected to sorcery and witchcraft?

Perhaps ascension to the summit was a form of rite of passage?

Was it built with esoteric knowledge of astronomy in alignment with cosmic forces?

There seems to be evidence of a single male human sacrifice, possibly a top official of The Mound People. Was he sacrificed to satisfy the whims of The Mound People?

The best guess is that the mound was probably a site of mass pilgrimage by The Shopping People, enabling them to pay homage to The Mound People in their thousands, and at sunset gain access to the summit of the sacred sphere of Mammon.

But The Shopping People revolted and joined with The Voting People to improve democratic decision-making with a system of proportional representation so that The Mound People disappeared from the pages of history.

PAUL SALT, W1