How much do we know about Stonehenge? Less than we think. And what has Stonehenge got to do with the Ice Age? More than we might think. This blog is mostly devoted to the problems of where the Stonehenge bluestones came from, and how they got from their source areas to the monument. Now and then I will muse on related Stonehenge topics which have an Ice Age dimension...
THE BOOK
Some of the ideas discussed in this blog are published in my new book called "The Stonehenge Bluestones" -- available by post and through good bookshops everywhere. Bad bookshops might not have it....
To order, click HERE
Some of the ideas discussed in this blog are published in my new book called "The Stonehenge Bluestones" -- available by post and through good bookshops everywhere. Bad bookshops might not have it....
To order, click HERE
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Profs TD and GW -- again....
Following recent reports that Tim Darvill has been very scathing lately about the bluestone "glacial transport" theory, I thought I'd better check up on what he might have said, and came across a new (is it new?) article in Current Archaeology mag. Details below.
http://www.archaeology.co.uk/news-features/the-stones-of-stonehenge.htm
Current Archaeology Live! London 2012 » Session Schedule
Below was the timetable for Current Archaeology Live! 2012, with sessions, speakers, and titles.
Friday 2 March
Stonehenge and megalithic monuments
Professor Timothy Darvill (Bournemouth University) - Stonehenge and Preseli: its only rock ‘n’ roll
Article: The Stones of Stonehenge
Tim Darvill and Geoffrey Wainwright’s research focuses on the very stones of Stonehenge. Here, they give us an insight into their 2008 excavation at Stonehenge and ten years of fieldwork in and around the Bluestone quarries in the Preseli Hills of north Pembrokeshire.
But hang on, what's this doing being flagged up as a new article in the magazine? Wasn't there an identical article in the mag in March 2011? And even then didn't I get a feeling that I had seen it before, and even before that? Now I am really confused...... and my confusion is not helped by the magazine failing to put dates on its articles. Can somebody please do a radiocarbon date on this particular artifact, so that we can see which archaeological period it belongs to?
http://brian-mountainman.blogspot.com/2011/02/darvill-and-wainwright-reveal-their.html
Quote: ".........ten years of fieldwork in and around the Bluestone quarries in the Preseli Hills of north Pembrokeshire." Oh dear oh dear. May the Good Lord give me strength.....
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16 comments:
"When a finger points to the moon, a wise man looks at the moon, a fool studies the finger"
Chinese proverb
RJL
Yes, I quite agree, er, I think I do.......
Darvill's talk was not billed in "Current Arch" mag until the March issue of this year. Then it just says under the generic title 'Stonehenge & Megalithic monuments', 1st J.R.; then Prof Tim Darvill (Bournemouth Uni), without any precise detail of TD's talk's subject (which you reveal in the Post above).
It may be that J.R., i.e. Julian Richards, may himself be able to directly shed some light on what T.D. actually said, vis a vis the Glacial Transport Theory. I believe you have Julian's email address, Brian; alternatively, Julian may see this Post and send a reply himself, as he has been in touch with you in the last few weeks.
I won't comment further until I get some idea of what TD actually said..... a report from somebody who was there would be appreciated. And if you read this, Tim, I'm open to a contribution...
For some reason the words "gravy" and "train" keep springing to mind.
Ainslie Harriott
Now that's a very strange expression. Anybody know where it comes from?
I think you find that 'finger' represents the movement of blue stones and the 'moon' the reason they used the stones, in the Chinese proverb
Carl Jung
And what might be the interpretation of Sigmund Freud?
But wasn't Brian asking about the far more domestic, British expression, "gravy train"??
Now, I've also heard of the receptacles used for transporting the precious gravy to the dinner plate being referred to, colloquially, as "boats". Are we happy with that as a descriptive word for the receptacles used?
Ainslie
"If you truly want to enter the realm of enlightenment, then it is necessary for you to clear out your mind so that it is as empty as a vacant room"
Pai-Chang
PS Freud thought that a child who sucked his thumb would not be interested in fingers.
Johnnie Walker
Dear Ainslie,
Gravy Train takes us back a couple of hundred years. Gravy Boat would move us back to 1500BC. For the learned professor perhaps Gravy Pot might be better?
I am now tired of posting anonymously although it was fun while it lasted.
Hope you feel better now, Chris. Ifyou had gone on with your wicked ways, the strain would eventually have become quite unbearable...
LOL!
Hello Brian,
"Don't shove your granny when she's shaving".
Have you any new photos and thoughts for your followers?
Phil -- I haven't forgotten! I'll sort out a paste for you soon.....
"Stonehenge and Preseli: it's only rock'n' roll"
The jolly title of Tim Darvill's aforementioned talk, March 2012.
Here's some Rhythm 'n' Blues, by contrast, from Jack Bruce & Cream, with an element of urgency and seriousness...
Please Open Your Eyes,
See what you can find,
I found out today
We're Going Wrong
Try to realise
We're Going Wrong........
Jack is, I'm pleased to say,still going strong, in good voice, 40 years on.
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