A handbook for new diggers?

[Jack]

Here it is..........

There you go then! So back to whatever the original question was in the original thread...oh yes, is there any evidence for people in the British Iron Age (however long that took!) suffering from malaria, and is that why there seems to be a (perceived) shortage of water-sources actually within IA settlement sites? :face-thinks:

Yep, malaria probably a problem in some areas.
A lack of a visible well, dew-pond etc doesn't mean a lack of water.

I'd look at topography, geology and hydrology of each site.

Besides whats wrong with sending all the kids, or slaves, or hostages, or bondsman etc....out in the morning with buckets to collect water from the nearest stream/spring etc for the day?

[P Prentice]

Here it is..........


Yep, malaria probably a problem in some areas.
A lack of a visible well, dew-pond etc doesn't mean a lack of water.

I'd look at topography, geology and hydrology of each site.

Besides whats wrong with sending all the kids, or slaves, or hostages, or bondsman etc....out in the morning with buckets to collect water from the nearest stream/spring etc for the day?

surely you send your cows out to do drinkin in the day

[Dinosaur]

Sense from PP :face-approve:

The original question arose from how much they'd need to drink if corralled at night, in between swatting mosquitos, obviously, and where all that water was coming from in the absence of archaeologists making water-filled features everywhere

[Wax]

What's wrong with a few good old fashioned water butts and troughs made of wood filled by rain water and skivvies/slaves etc. Would not leave much trace in the archaeological record but perfectly capable of storing large cquantities of water

[CARTOON REALITY]

Timber troughs - a very good point.

Or a few log boats perhaps - army surplus from the Bronze Age. Doing their job inside out.

Of course there may have been timber pumping mechanisms to draw water to those troughs . . .

[P Prentice]

What's wrong with a few good old fashioned water butts and troughs made of wood filled by rain water and skivvies/slaves etc. Would not leave much trace in the archaeological record but perfectly capable of storing large cquantities of water

what, you dont think they had enough to do

[Wax]

what, you dont think they had enough to do

What are slaves and kids for if not those boring little tasks

Seriously to understand a cattle base culture it might be worth looking at what such current cultures do. My limited understanding of such cultures is there ain't that much for the young men to do except nick each others cattle. I am sure some one could spare a little time to work out the logistics of water storage.

Of course they might have access to one of those fabulous magic cauldrons as per the myths

[Jack]

What are slaves and kids for if not those boring little tasks

Seriously to understand a cattle base culture it might be worth looking at what such current cultures do. My limited understanding of such cultures is there ain't that much for the young men to do except nick each others cattle. I am sure some one could spare a little time to work out the logistics of water storage.

Of course they might have access to one of those fabulous magic cauldrons as per the myths

Grin. Been reading too much of the Ulster cycles or the Mabinogion?

I think more sites should reference these fabulous resources:o)

The problem being, understanding modern (or historic) cattle-based cultures only gives you an idea of what is possible (or not possible) in functional terms and not what actually happened in the past. Not that you were suggesting anything other.

Useful empirical information to be compared and contrasted to the archaeological evidence, I agree.

Ooops, I feel a rant coming on........must be Friday.
But too many times have I seen researchers make leaps (beyond the evidence ) to relating modern cultural beliefs and ideology to ancient mindsets. Forgetting that the two are in no way more closely linked than our own western ideas.

I think this derives from a progressionist view of social evolution harking back to the Victorian idea that these modern 'primitive' societies are less socially evolved than us and therefore are more similar to our (less socially evolved) ancestors.
A bit like believing that we are evolved from chimpanzees.....................and not that both species have been evolving for the same amount of time from a common ancestor.

Branches on a tree, not points on a line. Bit like the structure of time.

[Wax]

[quote=Jack]Grin. Been reading too much of the Ulster cycles or the Mabinogion?

Fraid so, I do have a weakness for all myths and legends as I think ( with serious limitations) they do give glimpses into the very different ways of thinking our ancestors may have had. It is sometimes very sobering to try and put yourself into the shoes of people who totally believed in magic and the reality of other worlds that could be crossed into. Of course there are plenty of people who do the same in modern cultures, sometimes I think of Cyber Space as the equivalent of Avalon . Thats without even touching on religious belief (best left not touched !!!!)

[P Prentice]

[quote=Jack]Grin. Been reading too much of the Ulster cycles or the Mabinogion?

Fraid so, I do have a weakness for all myths and legends as I think ( with serious limitations) they do give glimpses into the very different ways of thinking our ancestors may have had

why then is it a weakness
and why not touch on religeous belief?