12th May 2011, 01:22 PM
Hi Jack
the last time i dug a cursus ditch and undertook some research it was more than apparent that nobody had actually bothered to dig more than the odd section through one thereby leaving 100s yards completely unknown. you cannot extrapolate anything from such a small sample so i reiterate my contestion (is that a word?) that everything left is still important as it may contain the information we dont yet have. and just cus nobody has chanced upon much between the ditches it dosent mean there is nothing there.
with regard to proving them ritual - i dont see a need and i think that academic theory has moved way beyond worrying about what is ritual and the ritual of what is!
the last time i dug a cursus ditch and undertook some research it was more than apparent that nobody had actually bothered to dig more than the odd section through one thereby leaving 100s yards completely unknown. you cannot extrapolate anything from such a small sample so i reiterate my contestion (is that a word?) that everything left is still important as it may contain the information we dont yet have. and just cus nobody has chanced upon much between the ditches it dosent mean there is nothing there.
with regard to proving them ritual - i dont see a need and i think that academic theory has moved way beyond worrying about what is ritual and the ritual of what is!