?All archaeologists are evil?. Discuss

[BAJR]

?All archaeologists are evil?. Discuss



So, Dennis the Menace is 60.


For those who are not ?in the know?, Dennis the Menace (or ?Dennis and Gnasher? as he is referred to these days ? presumably because ?the Menace? sounds a bit ASBO) was (and may well still be for all I know) a cartoon staple character from the Beano, a weekly comic which, before the days of Facebook and Wii, was the highlight of any self-respecting child?s week. Dennis has worn particularly well, in fact his instantly recognisable mop of black hair remains stubbornly free of grey, whilst his red and black striped jumper is still as vibrantly ?in your face? as it was in the 1950s. He still lives with his mum and dad, still upsets the local bobby and still gets into trouble with the neighbours. Neither he nor Gnasher, his dog, appear to have aged in the previous six decades, a worrying thought if any archaeologist of the future were to excavate his mortal remains, for he still has the physique of an 11 year old.


Why do I bring this up? Well, I was watching CBBC this morning (don?t ask) when up pops the latest adventure of the be-jumpered tearaway. Before I could hit 'off' on the TV remote, there on the screen was an animated archaeologist, excavating a trench (more like a disordered ?crater? if I?m honest) at the end of Dennis? road. I should of course have been able to guess the profession of this new character, even with the sound down, for he was wearing what any self-respecting archaeologist wears these days: tweed jacket, bow-tie, pith-helmet and Khaki coloured shorts (with long, knee-length socks). This is how all archaeologists dress: this is our uniform; our regulation outfit?isn?t it?


Enjoy the rest from Miles Russell.
http://archaeospeak.blogspot.co.uk/2011/...scuss.html

from 2011 but oh so relevant

[Wax]

I have come to the conclusion that it is the fact that archaeologists mess with the ancient (an not so ancient) dead that is the problem. Disturbing the dead is taboo in a lot of cultures and even in those with no prescription against it at a personal sub conscious level is regarded as bad. In reality there are many archaeologists who are not and never will be involved in excavation of human remains but the image persists. I was personally surprised to see the discomfort of members of the public in a normal British cemetery undertaking a cemetery survey. In the 21st century death is a taboo subject, archaeologist break the taboo so in popular culture have to take the consequences (all this is personal opinion)

[RedEarth]

Seems a bit harsh, on everyone involved. 'Media people are often a bit lazy' pretty much sums it up.

[Jim Hunter]

I don't think that CBBC are striving for documentary accuracy first and foremost in Dennis and Gnasher but they aren't the only ones to use this kind of shorthand. I recall an episode of The Bill where the discovery of a plague pit stopped a development and the local archaeologist (the 'Professor' from the local museum - not sure which one that would be for Sun Hill) was pictured in a trench wearing a tweed jacket, bow tie and examining a human long bone through a magnifying glass!
On the matter of all archaeologists being evil though, I think Wax makes an interesting point but there is a deeper distrust of a concern with the past amongst some people. I'm writing a paper on just this subject for TAG. It's my contention that there are groups of people who really don't like the past and the reasons for that are deep-rooted, genuine and nothing to do with a lack of effort on the part of archaeologists.

[P Prentice]

It's my contention that there are groups of people who really don't like the past and the reasons for that are deep-rooted, genuine and nothing to do with a lack of effort on the part of archaeologists.

oh you tease - give us a clue?

[P Prentice]

has anyone ever met an urbane, well-dressed, stylish, and amusing archaeologist to counter the ridiculous stereotype? it will require the concensus of at least two bajrites before i will believe it

[Wax]

has anyone ever met an urbane, well-dressed, stylish, and amusing archaeologist to counter the ridiculous stereotype? it will require the concensus of at least two bajrites before i will believe it

Yes several but all at higher management or academic levels. Field archaeologists tend to slip up on the well dressed and stylish bit.
So where do you fit into this description PP? Are you not all of these things?

Jim Hunter is right there are people for whom the past is something to be avoided or removed as for them it has absolutely no relevance. This does not make them bad people but does make any dialogue between them and archaeologists almost impossible.

[P Prentice]

.... there are people for whom the past is something to be avoided or removed as for them it has absolutely no relevance. This does not make them bad people but does make any dialogue between them and archaeologists almost impossible.

no? - it makes them stupid

[Boxoffrogs]

Evil ? Does that not first need a heaven? All religion gives a good and an evil if an archaeologist is an agnostic or indeed an atheist they can do no evil...wrong maybe but no evil....

I wore a suit and tie for ten years even on field work denims and shirt but always with a tie....except at winter solstice when I would oft wear a bow tie just for the heck of it!

[P Prentice]

I wore a suit and tie for ten years even on field work denims and shirt but always with a tie....except at winter solstice when I would oft wear a bow tie just for the heck of it!

duh - i said stylish and well-dressed