I have mentioned this famous 1972 Chronicle programme before. It came to mind again after reading one of Tony's recent comments. Parts of the programme were re-broadcast in 1985 in a Timewatch programme, and Mike Pitts reminded us of it in a post on his "Digging Deeper" blog.
https://mikepitts.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/the-heart-of-the-stonehenge-bluestone-problem/
Here is what he said:
I enjoyed Magnus Magnusson talking to Richard Atkinson and Geoffrey Kellaway about bluestones for a Chronicle film in 1972, like a polite Newsnight interview (love that rug!). Glyn Daniel sits beside Atkinson, struggling to conceal a quizzical smirk. (Photo above is from the film.)Did the bluestones get to Stonehenge by human transport or glacial action?
The fundamental problem with resolving this issue is clear in the film clip, and it hasn’t changed a bit. Kellaway (a geologist) talks about archaeology and the motivations of people who built Stonehenge. Atkinson (an archaeologist) talks about geology.
Kellaway: What nobody has explained is why were rotten stones that have in fact come out of a peat bog, which are absolutely useless for building, which have come from north or central or south Wales, we don’t quite know which, why those should be gathered together in heaps on Salisbury Plain?
Atkinson: If the bluestones were brought by ice to somewhere on Salisbury Plain, it seems to me highly improbable that what was brought was subsequently sufficient just for the needs of the builders of Stonehenge and left nothing over.
It began like this:
Magnusson: Professor Atkinson, do you think that Mr Kellaway is talking nonsense?
Atkinson: If I were to say yes, that would be rude.
Things are not always so polite now, but it’s an enduring academic shouting match that hasn’t moved on in 40 years. We’ll only progress if geologists and archaeologists work together, rather than lean on their ignorance of the other’s field for support.
5 comments:
Is the double question marks in the photo Colin Renfrew?
That looks like a distinct possibility, Dave.
Shared this to Facebook with intention of further dissemination, with my own comments and/or heading attached.
On further reflection, I think that it should be mentioned in this context that SIMON BANTON has provided a very valuable series of photographs of ALL of the Stonehenge bluestones, most of which are NOT pillar - shaped, at his own site:-
stonesofstonehenge.org.uk/
Secondly, since this 1972 BBC Chronicle film was made and since Mike Pitts commented upon it in 1985, something of great significance has been re - discovered.
This is the Newall 1924 Stonehenge boulder, until recently lost, although Geoffrey Kellaway knew of its existence. Tim Daw pointed us in its direction. Like the Prodigal Son, it was lost but is now found! ( again). Salisbury Museum Director Adrian Green enabled Brian and myself to scrutinise and to photograph it on Tuesday, June 14th, 2022 ( to be continued..)
(continued). I recommend people take another, or a first look at this Blog's Posts from June 2nd 2022 onwards as regards Newall's 1924 excavation of the ignimbrite boulder at Stonehenge and its implications. You will see, for example, that Brian showed his boulder photos to upwards of 10 senior glacial geomorphologists for their opinions.
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