Thanks to Chris for sending some info and pics from an exhibition on Stonehenge in Tongeren (Belgium) which has been curated by none other that Prof MPP.
The fantastical piece of artwork shown above seems to be one of the centrepieces of the exhibit -- not much mistaking of Rhosyfelin -- the artist has worked very carefully from photos of the rock face. It's all in there -- the ropes, the levers, the rollers and the triangular sledges with monoliths mounted crossways. Here is a close-up of the centre of the image:
Here is another image, with a very hairy fellow and his lovely lady wife about to cart off something that looks suspiciously like the 8-tonne monolith which caused all the fuss in the first place -- but conveniently reduced to manageable proportions.
Then we have a motley collection of stones reputedly collected from the Carn Goedog "quarry" -- apparently these are now objects of veneration.
Chris has kindly translated the captions as follows:
"3300-3000 BC - Carn Goedog
SOFT WEDGES
These ragged edged stones were used as wedges to prise pillar shaped blocks of bluestone from the quarry of Carn Goedog in Wales. They were later brought to Stonehenge.
The sides of the wedges display traces of use: people drove them into the cracks between the pillar shaped blocks to prise them loose.
The wedges are of shale which is much softer than the hard dolerite of the bluestones. Maybe people hoped in this way to avoid damaging the bluestone pillars. Probably the stoneworkers also used wooden wedges and hammers, and ropes. The objects made of organic materials are not preserved."
======================
So just when we thought that some common sense might be breaking out, we get all the usual fantastical stuff yet again, in an exhibit put together at vast expense. Even the nonsense about soft shale wedges is in there; but surely that must be a practical joke, designed to test just how gullible the people of Belgium really are..........
Well, we already know how gullible museum curators are. Enjoy!
==================================
Here is the museum publicity, flagging up that the exhibition is open until next April:
https://www.galloromeinsmuseum.be/en/exhibitions/temporary-exhibitions/stonehenge-voorbij-het-mysterie
13/10/2018 - 21/04/2019
2500 BC. An awe-inspiring structure was built in southern England. Circular, like the sun. With huge upright stones. The structure is now known as Stonehenge. Learn everything about this monument thanks to this intriguing exhibition.
What exactly is Stonehenge? Why was it built there of all places? Who ordered the huge monument to be built? And how did the builders actually build it? Recent archaeological research provides interesting facts and astonishing insights, while raising further questions.
The Gallo-Roman Museum brings together all the available knowledge in a single major exhibition: interviews with archaeologists, high-quality 3D visualisations, superb scale models, ... Authentic burial finds bear witness to festivities, ceremonies and funeral rites that gave colour and meaning to the lives of Stonehenge people. Atmospheric films offer an insight into their culture.
Fall under the spell of Stonehenge: one of the biggest mysteries in human history.
vast expense eh?
ReplyDeleteThey came begging for drone photos for the princely sum of a Name Check for the photo.
I declined their offer pointing out its hard to pay bills with Exposure!
I wonder if it is Peter's artwork? If so, I hope he was paid for it........
ReplyDeleteThat model must have cost a few Euros, that's for sure.....
So who put the exhibit together, Pete? Is it destined for the Stonehenge Visitor Centre?
ReplyDeleteLinda Bogaert, temporary exhibitions officer of the Gallo-Roman Museum of Tongeren (Belgium).
ReplyDeleteSo apparently nothing to do with either EH or Stonehenge?
ReplyDeleteI did not see Stonehenge and the Ice Age in the otherwise superb book shop. Opportunity knocks.
ReplyDeleteThere are many multimedia presentations, usually featuring a well known professor.
According to a local newspaper the exhibition was developed together with an Austrian company, Museumpartner, and Julian Richards. Many of the exhibits are loaned from British museums. A museum in Austria - Mamuz - is reportedly involved too. We can look forward to this fantasia being transported around Europe perhaps after this exhibition closes in April.
You mean The Stonehenge Bluestones? Thanks Chris -- I shall certainly drop them a line. It will not do for the good people of Belgium to be left in a state of ignorance for a moment longer........
ReplyDeleteWhat is interesting about this is that the curator and his team -- and maybe the Austrian partner as well -- appear to be blissfully unaware that there is a dispute going on, and that the quarrying hypothesis is not universally accepted. Julian Richards must take responsibility too, for failing to inform the organizers that all this quarrying stuff is fantasy, not truth. Why should museums and academics who are not actually involved in the work at Rhosyfelin and Carn Goedog have a problem with disputes? They are the lifeblood of science, and demonstrate a certain vitality. To pretend that there is a consensus there there palpably isn't one must ultimately lead to a loss of respect in academia and in the public at large. Some people appear to be too stupid to appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteAll we've had out of the 'wonderful' popular archaeology UK magazines as regards "there is a dispute going on" has been 2 words from Mike Pitts, viz "admittedly controversial" in Brit.Arch.; and Current Archaeology's "Sherds" column actually MENTIONING Brian & his geomorphologist - colleagues' 2 articles........BUT, since that ONE mention, they've gone strangely and very sadly (for Science) SILENT, and no more mentions over around 2 years. Unforgiveable! Unscientific! Pandering to what is perceived to be "Celebrity Status".
ReplyDeletePerhaps rather than pushing the book! Perhaps you could ask Ms Bogaert if she was interested in seeing some samizdat copies of your papers on Rhosyfelin published in the Journal of Quaternary Science?
ReplyDeletePst: Ere! want to buy some feelthy postcards of quaternary glacial sediments at Rhosyfelin?
I have written to them, Alex -- asking why, in the light of the published literature, they are apparently unaware that there is a dispute going on...... Let's see how they respond.
ReplyDeleteI have now discovered that the exhibition was put together under the guidance of none other than MPP. The Belgian curators of the museum say they cannot be expected to know the pros and the cons of assorted arguments, especially if a dispute involves people from other disciplines. So therefore they go with the guidance given to them by the likes of MPP and Julian Richards........ round and round we go........
ReplyDeleteJulian Richards should be ashamed of himself, He rides the Gravy Train "Michael Pied Piper" - be careful your carriage does not become detached soon, Julian.
ReplyDelete".......round and round we go".........it's that old BLACK MAGIC called BIAS!
ReplyDelete