A friend put this onto his Facebook page. Should be compulsory reading for all archaeologists == and probably for the rest of us too. It’s all too easy to be dragged into illogical — and even unethical — practices when one is preoccupied with making a case or demonstrating the worth of one’s working (or ruling) hypothesis.......
11 comments:
11. Thou shalt not ridicule certain exceptional senior archaeologists as "legends in their own lunchtime" particularly when they are pondering and ruminating** whilst taking their 'dig breaks'.
As i was leaving the house this morning there was quite an interesting programme on Radio 4 concerning trial and error.I intend to catch up with it later but it contains an interesting quote from Ibn-al-Haytham that i believe is relevant.
Yes, Gordon, I see it was in the Radio Times today as "Something Understood", at 6.05 a.m.
Tony
"This Blog concentrates on matters relating to Stonehenge and the mystery of the bluestones. It is NOT an archaeology site, and I will try to keep all entries accurate and science-based."
Brian John
Fair enough - Geomorphologist Dr.John is the webmaster, it's his site to do with as he pleases.
But can someone explain to me why there's no web forum that does focus on the archaeology of Stonehenge (and other stone circles, standing stones, dolmens etc.?) - at least none that I know of. (I do not consider that Megalithic Portal does the business, given its confusing multi-tab scattergun approach and lack of specific focus).
How come the 'mystery' of Stonehenge is touted regularly in the media - with the inevitable references to alleged alignment with summer or winter solstices and much else besides - as if a proven fact?
Summin' ain't right!
Are we being conned - by English Heritage, by the media, by the country's archaeological establishment etc etc?
Colin Berry (aka sciencebod)
There is an organisation called the Society of Antiquaries that has an online Journal, but they appear to be deeply committed to the Human Transport Theory. The solid evidence provided by Brian and his chums at "The Quaternary Research Association" QRA, That Rhosyfelin wasn never a quarry, doesn't appear to have been allowed an appearance in their esteemed journal! The spirit of Atkinson still haunts the place! If we let the bloody lower orders in, geologists and other sorts, with their cheap suits and muddy boots! Where will it end? Must go and lie down, having a fit of the vapours!
Mystery sells Colin. If it was known what Stonehenge was for, there would probably be fewer visitors.
Yes — Antiquaries Journal and Salon are both part of the establishment, devoted to the protection of the interests of the leaders of opinion! Very often, as in this case, there is an editor who has expressed strongly partisan views, and so he has his interests to protect as well. In this context assumptive research thrives and authors can get away with ignoring anything inconvenient. There are major questions too about the peer review process, which should be undependent and impartial but hardly ever is.......
Sciencebod — I thought there were other blogs? Tim Daw’s is one I can think of, and I suppose there are others that people migrate to when they are banned from mine! The trouble for blogmeisters is that they have to deal with trolls alkl the time, and patience eventually runs out. Start your own blog, Colin! It’s very easy.....
Sciencebod — I thought there were other blogs? Tim Daw’s is one I can think of, and I suppose there are others that people migrate to when they are banned from mine! The trouble for blogmeisters is that they have to deal with trolls alkl the time, and patience eventually runs out. Start your own blog, Colin! It’s very easy.....
I guess it depends what one means by "blog" Brian. The term was of course originally a condensed form of weblog, implying that the owner would be reporting at fairly frequent intervals on a topic of personal interest, inviting comments, but not necessarily intending to run a discussion forum as such. That's why I was careful to describe this site as a "blog", and would use the same term to describe my own three surviving internet sites.
sciencebuzz (started 2009)
http://colinb-sciencebuzz.blogspot.com/
shroudofturinwithoutallthe hype (2012)
https://shroudofturinwithoutallthehype.wordpress.com/
sussingstonehenge (2012)
https://sussingstonehenge.wordpress.com/
The last of those is devoted mainly to Stonehenge, as well as Silbury Hill, but gets scarcely any visitors, far less commentators, which doesn't bother me unduly (seeing the sites more as a means of online reporting of patient scientific enquiry, much of it unconventional inn its approach, extending over months, nay years).
Back to the original question: why no WEB FORUM on which to discuss rival theories, indeed new theories, on so major a part of our nation's heritage, namely Stonehenge, while not ignoring other megalithic sites that provide important clues as to real intended purpose?
Tim Daw's sarsen.org site? Methinks Tim needs to put a little more of himself into his postings, which all too often are informative but, apologies for candour, being somewhat on the dull side. I frankly don't see it evolving into an attention-grabbing web forum. It's arguably not a conventional blog either, given the disparate range of topics addressed, seemingly without a common unifying theme (certainly not focused on the "sarsen" of the site title!).
I still find it puzzling that there's no Stonehenge web forum as such. Maybe English Heritage prefers it that way, and is happy for things to remain the way they are ... Might English Heritage be fearful of controversy, of irreverent questioning of the platitude-ridden status quo!
Colin Berry
fragmeNTs is quite a good site. It deals with the Avebury & Stonehenge World Heritage Site and is run by the National Trust archaeologist Dr Nick Snashall. It includes the Between the Monuments Project. But it won't please all the people all of the time, Colin.I suppose every Blog has its own agenda/frailties. Us enquirers tend to seek out information from 'Here, There and Everywhere', like ex - Quarryman, P Macca. Or, as Mama Cass sang, Make Your Own Kinda Music.......create your own library of sources, and/or form your own Blog.
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