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cIFA does it again (or ra...
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| DMRB |
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Posted by: trowelhead - 3rd August 2006, 11:47 AM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (12)
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DMRB Guidelines re archaeology VOL 10 and 11 are they a help or a hinderance for archaeology do they benefit the developer or the heritage. Just reading through it looks like a lot of get out of jail re cards in there for the developer and a ability to ignore the usual PPG16
Close enough for a country job!
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| Da Vinci Code and (pseudo)archaeology |
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Posted by: Paul Barford - 1st August 2006, 10:11 AM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (8)
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Quote:quote:Originally posted by Beardstroker
Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host
[Off to see the film tonight.... welll..... no your enemy I say
I would spend the money on a better film, Mr Hosty (or alternatively beer and chips) it really is the most godawfully dull piece of bilge. Shame as the book was actually moderately entertaining.
I find this whole phenomenon fascinating. The book IS entertaining (though bits of it could have been better written IMHO), the film as Beardstroker says only moderately so, and to my mind pretty difficult to follow if you've not read the book first.
What I find astounding is its enough for the author to write that the Priory of Sion "is a real organization" and that Opus Dei exists (duh !) and "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documentsand secret rituals in this novel are accurate" (how could they not be?) and a large part of the reading public starts half-believing (or actually believing) in the conspiracy theory at the book's core.
And yet, a mouse-click or two away, almost any of the people who bought the book can easily find dozens of pieces of (verifiable) information which show the conspiracy theory really has too many holes to be plausible (like the infamous documents created by Pierre Plantard and planted in the Bibliotheque Nationale)... So the question is, why dont they? We live in an age when we can easily search for information without having to get off our backsides and go to a library or bookshop. The Internet, read critically (like anything else), puts it right under our nose. In theory we should be the best informed generation there has ever been, and yet we live in an age when all sorts of empty-brained and intellectually-flawed crap flourishes. Von Daniken and Graham Hancock and Holy Blood- Holy Grail/Da Vinci Code type nonsenses get widely accepted, even though anyone wishing to just check out a few facts or opposing views for themselves can do so. So why dont they? Do they want to be led up the garden path by any charlatan who can put pen to paper? (1)
I think this is importatnt for us to think about, as we produce one (set of) vision[s] of the past, while our public (the ones we say we are doing it all for) produce and all-too-willingly accept their own and sharply conflicting visions and dismiss any attempt to show (when we care to attempt it) that there is another version of events.
The believers in these "fringe" (though in fact in terms of size perhaps THESE are now the mainstream heories) are not so interested in checking out the basic facts and deciding between opposing models, all they need is an attractively-packaged version of "the "experts" got this wrong/ told you only half the truth / dont understand this" and there you have an instant public archaeology. Is there not a potential danger here with implications for the future of archaeology when millions of people want a more "exciting" version of the past full of "mysteries" ad "massive cover-ups" and we (the parties accused of doing the covering-up and getting it all wrong) keep giving the same old stuff?
Should we be blithely ignoring this sort of phenomenon? I think to a certain extent we do, we tend to pooh-pooh it and assume it will all blow over... (2) but what are the cumulative effects? Or should we be thinking of ways to more aggressively counter this kind of nonsense? Or should we go along with it in the spirit of liberalism and a Post-Modern "Anything goes"?
What implications would these three approaches have for British (and not only of course) archaeology? Any thoughts?
Paul Barford
(1) To clarify, in the case of the DVC, to my mind, the charlatans are the authors of Holy Blood ad Holy Grail, I think the situation about what Dan Brown set out to write is much more complex. They should be seen together ad not in isolation.
(2) Yes I know some of us produce books and websites (like the Hall of Ma'at) to counter them, but it seems to me that they rarely reach where they are needed.
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| Real Ale or White Wines? |
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Posted by: muddyandcold - 30th July 2006, 06:45 PM - Forum: The Site Hut
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In the good awld days archaeologists loved nothing better than a fine pint of real ale for breakfast, teabreaks, lunch, supper and nightcap [xx(]. What is the preferred drink of the archaeologist today? :face-topic:
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| Google Earth |
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Posted by: trowelhead - 27th July 2006, 06:22 PM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (12)
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I was wondering how many people are using google earth etc for Ariel interpretation of sites these days. is it a viable option depending on resolution to use it instead of commisioning pricey ariel surveys these days, just had a client ask. I was a bit stumped with regard to an answer really.
Close enough for a country job!
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| Helping the PAS |
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Posted by: Magpie - 26th July 2006, 05:09 PM - Forum: The Site Hut
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For the second time in about 12 months my local PAS officer has asked me to help excavate and record a chance finds made by farmworkers and detectorists. I am happy to help and give my time freely; just as well as the PAS tell me there are no funds available to pay you. As a self employed archaeologist I am beginning to wonder if I should be really doing this and ecouraging the PAS to get valuable work done for nothing.
Does this happen elsewhere ?
I would be interested in hearing the opinions of other BAJR Bods in this subject BUT PLEASE lets not get into a MD debate !!
Magpie
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| How many archaeologists, how many firms? |
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Posted by: kevin wooldridge - 24th July 2006, 04:28 PM - Forum: The Site Hut
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Does anyone know of any further research undertaken or articles written in response to the IFA 2003 'Profiling the Profession' estimate of 5000 UK archaeological staff working for approximately 770 employers? Both figures seem a tad high to me.....
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| TV opportunity |
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Posted by: BAJR Host - 22nd July 2006, 09:13 PM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (35)
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And before you ask.... yes I am applying...if there is a big prize I can help fund the Kenyan Orphanage, a Georgian Museum and slap some cash into community projects and ensure that the Digger is fully funded... whoooooo hooooooooooo (oh... and a new trowel!)
you have until the end of the 23rd July !!!
DO YOU HAVE A TALENT FOR CRACKING CODES OR SOLVING PUZZLES??
AND DO YOU FANCY A FOREIGN ADVENTURE. ALL PAID FOR BY CHANNEL 4?
The Search is a brand new Channel 4 show taking 10 lucky contestants on an amazing treasure hunt to some of the most iconic and spectacular historical locations on the planet.
We're looking for Britain's brightest people to unravel mysteries, decipher codes and keep up with the pace of this spectacular new show. We want people from all backgrounds with the skills to help them overcome the challenge.
You may be an academic from Oxford or a cabbie with a degree from the
university of life, it doesn't matter as long as you've got what it takes.
If selected you will get the chance to travel to some of the most exotic places on earth and if you can keep your wits about you, discover a fortune in hidden treasure.
CONTACT: If you've got a thirst for adventure and you have an engaging
personality please go to: http://www.princesstv.com/search/ or call Emilie at 0207 985 1944.
IMPORTANT: You need to be available for filming from the end of September through to the end of November.
Another day another WSI?
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| Budding photographer? |
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Posted by: getatrowel - 21st July 2006, 04:01 PM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (2)
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Hi all
Are any of you obsessive photographers at digs? When you visit classic sites, do you take lots of lovely shots?
http://getatrowel.co.uk has created a Flickr group for everybody to upload and share their pics! If you are a keen Flickr user, you will already know how great this site is. If not - join now! It is free!
We hope, too, to be able to use some of your great shots on the getatrowel.co.uk site - either in a new gallery or as the main banner at the top! We will be giving away prizes as usual for the best.
sign up here! http://www.flickr.com/groups/67042601@N00/
Ian
http://www.getatrowel.co.uk - trowels for archaeological excavators
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