Thursday, November 20, 2003
Despite what my taxi driver keeps trying to tell me,the pyramids at Giza are old, but not that old. Why on earth do so many people have an opinion on this?
One friend recently explained that overturning 'establishment' views of the nature of anything whatsoever is a powerful motivator for people who are upset with modern life (IE most of us - and so it has always been for every generation since the first old git complained that things were much better before they discovered fire).
The beliefs of the age are intertwined with the realities of the age. If we are dissaffected from the realities, we naturally have problems with the beliefs.
So, trying to convince me that Sphinxy was built by Atlanteans is a gentle warping of a healthy natural trait and my taxi driver isn't mad after all.
One friend recently explained that overturning 'establishment' views of the nature of anything whatsoever is a powerful motivator for people who are upset with modern life (IE most of us - and so it has always been for every generation since the first old git complained that things were much better before they discovered fire).
The beliefs of the age are intertwined with the realities of the age. If we are dissaffected from the realities, we naturally have problems with the beliefs.
So, trying to convince me that Sphinxy was built by Atlanteans is a gentle warping of a healthy natural trait and my taxi driver isn't mad after all.
Thursday, November 13, 2003
BBC radio this morning introduced the great Paul Bahn as "author of The Bluffer's Guide to Archaeology".
I like the idea that one of our preeminent archaeologists tells people that the bluffers guide is his most famous work.
I like the idea that one of our preeminent archaeologists tells people that the bluffers guide is his most famous work.
Thursday, November 06, 2003
Ah, the vanity of us Brits!.. or us Romans or us Celts or us Early Saxons? Whoever we are, we still smear shite on our faces, but these days the pots have a french name and cost a bit more than half a denari.
ABCNEWS.com : Ancient Women Used Dung, Grease as Makeup
ABCNEWS.com : Ancient Women Used Dung, Grease as Makeup
The Council for British Archaeology have updated their "Educational resources for archaeology" guide for teachers.
Found a lovely PDF for anyone who might want to know about deck Construction of the Mary Rose, the only Tudor warship that the average visitor can come an see.
Monday, November 03, 2003
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Iceman mystery solved
Seems Otzi is an Italian. The Iceman has graphically shown just how much detail can be gleaned using isotope analysis. Despite the silly rows that accompanied news of his discovery, the man in the ice is turning into one of the classic finds of the entire twentieth century.
Read more...
Seems Otzi is an Italian. The Iceman has graphically shown just how much detail can be gleaned using isotope analysis. Despite the silly rows that accompanied news of his discovery, the man in the ice is turning into one of the classic finds of the entire twentieth century.
Read more...