28th May 2012, 01:06 PM
P Prentice Wrote:and you would have top spend a year in it with all your family, slaves, animals etc for you to have even a remotely valid point- or you could look at recent comparative anthropological examples and save yourself the bother as they are at least if not more use than your weekend camping
No argument about the need to collect data carefully for best results......and to reconstruct as best can.
To be honest the major eye-opener over the weekend was the smoke thing, had always thought that a roundhouse of that design would be very smoky inside. The doorway/light was a functional afterthought.
BAJR..........hadn't realised our discussion had polar extremes..........the available data has a multitude of valid interpretations (and we seem to be wandering all over the shot.)
I like the Scottish Broch thing, cheers...........not read it (will have to give it careful attention later) but regional variations seems to be the way forward (as long as the 'region' chosen is valid)
But to cut to the chase, referring to the interpretation of the patterns in roundhouse doorway facing.......
The data as yet presented is inconclusive over a single causal reason.
I suspect that a number of factors are at work in different regions and at different times.
My main argument (as always) is over how the data is collected, presented and the interpreted.
Think we started by arguing over science vs non-science
My point was that a database of the details of over 600 odd circular structures is a much better place to start your analysis than say four sites that fit your already decided model.
My vote (over the voice parody of light vs religion) over the reason behind the pattern of doorway facing would be for all three.
1) Practical concerns
2) Traditional concerns
3) Choice
After all humans are both obstinate and stuck in their ways, and innovative contrary and curious............its a matter of adaption and evolution to their particularly weird past environmental pressures :face-stir: