New scientific techniques reveal how large tribal gatherings swept Neolithic Britain.
More info :
guardian.co.uk/science/2012/may/13/scientists-stone-age-boom-festivals
location_on
photo
ondemand_video
forum
description
link
I'm fascinated by the quote "The man who ran these celebrations would have been very powerful, it is clear." Why this conclusion?
Come on. I know there's a healthy amount of scepticism bordering on an irrational disposition to disagree with everything the "establishment archaeos" come up with. But how could the person running/ministering these gatherings not be in a position of power?!
Surely if people are moved to gather in large numbers, organise labour and animals for these seasonal gatherings then the person controlling them would be in a position of power, what other logical measure of power would they have? The biggest nose in the tribe?! Its common sense and human nature. We haven't changed that much since then.
What's the alternative? The ones organising these gatherings would be seen as insignificant and the community would confer respect and power to some random, arbitrarily chosen individual sat atound doing nothing who wasn't involved?!
Why would they?