Archaeological Philosophy
🕑 Added 2021-04-03 20:46:17 +0000 UTCInspired by the book, 'Digging for the Past' by Greek archeologist, Yannis Sakellarakis, Tim and Helen get a little bit philosophical...
Comments
Does anyone know what book Helen is referring too about conserving your finds? I thought that was the title she mentioned but I can’t find anything
World Lily
Amazing conversation! Would love to hear more philosophical musings and practical considerations. Excellent content, as always.
Sarah Holloway
Fascinating thoughts, insights and information expressed in this brilliant commentary between Helen and Tim .
Francis Tucker Manns
Great thoughts. It takes prosperity to slow things down enough to save history.
"Common sense is just not the way humans behave". That is very true sometimes. Interesting to view human nature through the lens of archeology.
Jon Colcord
I truly enjoyed that. It got me thinking about what does it mean to ‘preserve’? You cannot preserve what you do not know. You cannot destroy what has already been destroyed. What is left and buried is mostly destruction. You do not gain knowledge if you do not open the pages of the book. If you’ve forgotten something (our collective past in these instances), then you must excavate. Open that book. I am amazed that there are listed sites, which are listed because of vague recollections or lore. What purpose does it serve to save something for the future by never knowing what it is, or why it truly may be important? I am no archaeologist, but that is what this conversation got me thinking about.
Jim Markey
Great stuff, thanks.
JUDITH COOKE
Absorbing discussion. I enjoyed being immersed in the fine details of an archaeological project from different views. Thanks Tim and Helen, and Yannis.
Alan
Nice discussion. How about one on the ethics of archaeology. Maybe a few issues for Time Team wrestles there.
Mark Cooke
Yep good stuff thks
Lukas Muehlethaler
I'm in a different field, by I agree with Helen that diaries are essential. It would be fascinating to see the site notebooks of past or future Time Team digs. To see the process and not "just" the results is what makes watching Time Team such a fascinating experience.
Eggs Ackley
I was taken with Helens observation that our Roman (and other societies) ancestors were no more prone to using common sense than we are today. To quote a lyric from the late John Prine’s tune “Common Sense,” “That common sense don’t make no sense no more.” (and never has, so beware!😉)
Robert Wise
This was a fascinating discussion! Thank you both! More discussions like this would be welcome… I am so glad Helen brought up trees! I think of the great forests that existed when eastern America first began to be settled.