Nuclear Information Centre
Watts | Weapons | Waste (2024).
[NIC/NW/016]
What is this mysterious trio of ancient looking clay objects?
Speculative research suggests they could be time-travelling archaeological finds from an unspecified post-nuclear future, possibly discovered in the vicinity of Sellafield, a site that became unofficially known as the UK’s nuclear dustbin in the 20th and 21st centuries. Perhaps they were created as reminders of our pioneering, problematic and plutonium-filled atomic past; now faded future artefacts from a time when nuclear power, weapons and waste were lovingly and lovelessly intertwined.
The additional discovery of unexpectedly long-lasting and well cared for written records indicate the UK’s first commercial nuclear reactors at Calder Hall in Cumbria and Chapelcross in Dumfries and Galloway were also used to manufacture and supply plutonium to the UK’s nuclear weapons programme. It is also believed that weapons grade plutonium was sometimes cast into approximately 5kg non-critical rings, each one enough to form the spherical core of one atomic bomb or warhead.
Legend also has it the UK once held the largest global stockpile of nominally peaceful plutonium. For many years this toxic inventory remained in limbo at Sellafield awaiting potential conversion into civil nuclear fuel or possibly for military purposes. Ultimately, it is thought all the UK’s Plutonium was eventually immobilised and put beyond human reach, surrounded by layers of bentonite clay, deep inside a future geological disposal facility or GDF which was believed to have been constructed somewhere in the UK during the latter half of the 21st century.
Perhaps in time, these objects may become more popularly known as “Sellafield Rings”.
Perhaps they already are?
Watts | Weapons | Waste, 2024, Bentonite Clay (3 x rings). Each ring approx 11cm diameter.
Information last updated: Wed 30 Oct 2024
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