Fields Recordings From The Sea

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Annexus Quamm A
Annexus Quamm Apr 20, 2004 18:44:09
Replying to TomBo

"Doesn't this rather undermine one of Mr. Cope's central arguments, in the Modern Antiquarian? Namely, that as monuments celebrating agriculture megaliths symbolise the beginning of the error that is currently destroying the world. "

He is more aware of the pushing back of the dates than I am. I'm sure Driver is a constant forward thinking machine.

"The other question that this begs, for me, is just what it was that inspired the building of megalithic structures. What changed people, giving them monumentality, if it wasn't agriculture?"

As I said, settling. Settling IS nearly always agriculture, but NOT always. Besides, I still support the view that 99% of megalithic sites were created by farmers.

F FourWinds
FourWinds Apr 20, 2004 21:02:53
Replying to Annexus Quamm

The Mod Ant is nearly 10 years old. As a piece based upon one man's experience and the knowledge of the time it's a great work, but a lot has happened in the meantime. The latest dates from Carrowmore for instance were release in 1997. Julian has now been to many, many other places and has realised that things he thought were right were actually either wrong or a little off the mark and need refining. I keep re-writing swathes of stuff after just seeing another couple of portal tombs. There always comes a point when you have to publish, but you always have to be ready to come back and address any short comings in the future.

I am sure that certain things he said in the Mod Ant will be superceded in Driver and that's only natural. At least things will be corrected and not left on the shelf. I keep seeing people recommend books from 20 years ago as being vital sources or the 'must-read' book on a section of the subject. Absolute bollocks! If a 20 year old book is still the definitive on anything in this sphere then someone needs to write a new one pretty damn sharpish.

T TomBo
TomBo Apr 20, 2004 23:41:17
Replying to Annexus Quamm

"As I said, settling. Settling IS nearly always agriculture, but NOT always. Besides, I still support the view that 99% of megalithic sites were created by farmers."

And that pretty much answers my question, thanks. (I will look up that book, btw, it does sound like exactly what I need)