Hi, Littlestone,

Despite my reservations about TT and their ratings-fuelled Blitzkreig Archaeologyof Hollywood sites, I quite enjoyed this programme; possibly because it wasn't all about TT and their agenda to entertain. There was some interesting stuff here, but I was put off by the hyperbole and amplified adjectives of The-Once-Baldrick.

<Not sure I buy this, 'wood was for the living, stone for the dead' malarkey (and then to make the quantum leap into the present by saying it's like a 'temporary wooden cross being eventually replaced by a stone one.' Nah... I'm sticking with me pigs mate (no pun intended).>

Certainly, I feel MPP was clutching at straws when he got the whole Christian burial interwoven with the possibility of wood/stone relationship (liked the fact he was obviously a "hands on" archaeo though). Julian Thomas was being (rightly IMO) broad in his interpretation, but Tony Robinson drove the TT Chariot of Certainty right through his equivocation in order to present something "new".

<And what about a roof? Clothing flopping about in the wind? No way. You gonna stick that many big posts up in da ground you gonna wanna roof boss. Couldn't help drawing a parallel with the Sanctuary-West Kennet Avenue-Avebury complex though.>

Francis Pryor has a deal to say on this in "Britain BC" and "Seahenge", also Mike Pitts (GRRR!) in "Hengeworld" aligns with the idea of structures in the landscape representing life and death.
I like the idea of totems; not sure about the Tibetan-like "prayer flags" and cloth sails; methinks they spent too much of their formative at Glastonbury....... Of course, I think it's actually an echo of woodland, but one of the great things about this hobby (for that is what it is) is that we shall never know for sure. Everything is up for grabs, provided we maintain the ability to listen with open minds....

Peace

Pilgrim

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