John Bennet, a professor of Aegean archaeology at Sheffield University, UK, commented that any new discovery of a channel should be viewed in a wider context.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Drill hole begins Homeric quest

Speeches were given by heritage experts from across the UK including Ian Barnes, the Head of Archaeology for the National Trust, Chairman of the WHS Steering Committee Andrew Williamson, and WHS Coordinator Sarah Simmonds.

UNESCO: UK National Commission for UNESCO - National Trust launches joint Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Management Plan

Among its initial projects are studying the impact of a spate of wildfires across the UK in 2011 and a bid to get more public involvement in archaeology.

BBC: Dumfries Crichton Campus research centre opens