Off On One Again: Time Team and Experimental Archaeology

Off On One Again

A blog of no interest to anyone apart from me. Highly egotistical. Somewhat ironic that once upon a time people kept diaries secret. Now we publish to the world, even if no-one is listening (or reading). This may include stuff on Greece, history, rugby, cricket, Health and Safety, Wales, genealogy and West Hendred. It will almost certainly include complete rants about things I find amusing, interesting or annoying. There is no guarantee that anyone will share my views!

About Me

Name: Jonathan

Location: Didcot, Oxon, United Kingdom

37, forgetful, cynical, sarcastic, would like to have been a struggling artist but ended up with a PhD in chemistry. Got bored with being in the lab, fell into Health and Safety and now can't get out of science without taking a pay cut. Rather enjoying the diversion into Environmental compliance. Unfit and terminally depressed. Lovely wife Sam - just about all that keeps me together. Son Rafferty GFX Hall born 24 Oct 2005 is growing up quickly. Greyhound (Buddy), cats (PJ and Boots), tortoises (Tinkerbell and Compost). Learning Greek at Evening Classes. Play Cricket badly for Didcot CC, haven't played rugby for years and am a little annoyed about that. According to my medical, am clincially obese. Earn far too little. Completed H&S and Environmental Diplomas

May 08, 2005

Time Team and Experimental Archaeology

Is it a condition of employment on Time Team that you should wear ridiculously coloured handknitted jumpers, and be very very excitable? Or is this just a condition of the profession (Dan...?)

Oh, and is experimental archaeology just another name for finding a tiny piece of flint/iron/carved stone/bone and making up an entire history of a nation from it?

3 Comments:

dan said...: You wear any old shit cos its going to get covered in crap.

Also, you make it bright colours so the machine driver can find your corpse when he's 'inadvertantley' backfilled the hole when you're in it.; May 17, 2005
dan said...: Oh, and experimental archaeology is there to stop people (academics with paper clips in their beards) from finding a piece of driftwood on a site and claiming that man made a space rocket from it.

It all about proving or disproving theories - I thought you would approve.

You should go for that mate.

All a bunch of arse if you ask me - get a bit whammed on cider and re-do the battle of Flodden.; May 17, 2005
Jonathan said...: It appears that the experimental archaeology on Time Team is just what the paper-clip-in-beard brigade are doing, i.e., extrapolating a vast amount from the tiniest clues. I would agree that if done properly with good scientific method then it is worthwhile. The televised version has them trying to reconstruct villages and cultures form the smallest piece of flint, though.; May 17, 2005