6th August 2008, 02:40 PM
Well they are all mad.
For the last 10 years or so Britarch has essentially been a fighting forum for the extremist pro- and anti- metal detecting and collecting arguments. Paul Barford bravely fights the archaeological corner against a succession of various shady dealers in illicit antiquities. Sadly Mr. Barford's own views have, I feel, become more and more extreme over the years in opposition to these people, and by perpetuating arguments in a vituperative fashion he does not always represent his own case quite so well. It is a shame, however, because he is essentially correct in most of what he says.
Sadly most sensible people (of which I consider myself one) have now left the list so he is in a corner all on his own.
Otherwise there are three or four people who regularly post, but rarely on archaeological matters. There is one nutter who continually raises the issue of global warming (because he doesn't believe it), another one who seems obsessed by his own web-based radio station and the Hampshire police force, and there is always someone who misunderstands place names. There used to be a hippy/new-age contingent as well who often sent emails in some Celtic language or other, but that source of amusement seems to have given up altogether in the last couple of years.
There are a couple of genuine archaeological queries every month, and it is a good place to find announcements of events, publications, conferences and sometimes even jobs (which is why I pop in from time to time).
For the last 10 years or so Britarch has essentially been a fighting forum for the extremist pro- and anti- metal detecting and collecting arguments. Paul Barford bravely fights the archaeological corner against a succession of various shady dealers in illicit antiquities. Sadly Mr. Barford's own views have, I feel, become more and more extreme over the years in opposition to these people, and by perpetuating arguments in a vituperative fashion he does not always represent his own case quite so well. It is a shame, however, because he is essentially correct in most of what he says.
Sadly most sensible people (of which I consider myself one) have now left the list so he is in a corner all on his own.
Otherwise there are three or four people who regularly post, but rarely on archaeological matters. There is one nutter who continually raises the issue of global warming (because he doesn't believe it), another one who seems obsessed by his own web-based radio station and the Hampshire police force, and there is always someone who misunderstands place names. There used to be a hippy/new-age contingent as well who often sent emails in some Celtic language or other, but that source of amusement seems to have given up altogether in the last couple of years.
There are a couple of genuine archaeological queries every month, and it is a good place to find announcements of events, publications, conferences and sometimes even jobs (which is why I pop in from time to time).