The King in the Car Park

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Sanctuary S
Sanctuary Feb 7, 2013 10:29:43
Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:
"As an amateur you can put your REAL views and thoughts forward no matter how off the wall they may seem because you are not shackled like 'most' archaeos"

Shackled by what? Evidence?

Sometimes, but more often then not because they had not considered alternatives. Lack of tangible evidence doesn't always mean it didn't exist or didn't happen. There is always something new to discover. Short-sightedness or lack of observation is not a good quality to have in crucial work of this nature.

L Littlestone
Littlestone Feb 7, 2013 11:21:27
Replying to Sanctuary

Sanctuary wrote:
Lack of tangible evidence doesn't always mean it didn't exist or didn't happen. There is always something new to discover. Short-sightedness or lack of observation is not a good quality to have in crucial work of this nature.
Absolutely, in fact many of man’s greatest discoveries were/are made without the aid of evidence – ie the chance discovery of penicillin from an already discarded, contaminated Petri dish. My favourite, though, the chance discovery of aniline purple in 1856 by the 18 year-old scientist William Perkin. Why favourite? Because a colour, notoriously difficult to produce and one restricted to the rich and powerful, had now became available to all.

You could say that about many of the things we discuss here :-)

N nigelswift
nigelswift Feb 7, 2013 12:25:32
Replying to Sanctuary

"Lack of tangible evidence doesn't always mean it didn't exist"
Of course it doesn't, it just means the theory is speculative and not backed up with evidence.

"Short-sightedness or lack of observation is not a good quality to have in crucial work of this nature."
What are you saying? Archaeologists are short sighted for saying some theories are speculative and not backed up with evidence? If so I don't agree.