When you put it like that, "just to please the Archaeologists" it sounds stupid, I know. But I DO think you're postulating something totally different from previous thinking (not for the first time!) so they'll be reluctant to accept it. The thing is, with stone rowing they can see there's no equally efficient method. But with this they've got an option to "prefer" what they've previously believed.
Anyway, truth to tell, it's not just them, it's me. I just feel "it's leaning so let's pull it up" is a natural reaction and would have formed at least part of their thinking.
It's a bit like head-butting really. You could demonstrate it works, and I'd pay to watch, but it wouldn't convince me it was the most likely method for non-chippies.