massacre?

Wayland’s Smithy 16

Image by wysefool

Rhiannon Mar 12, 2007 13:51:29

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/55945

I'm sure there's more to it than this. But the evidence put forth in the article is hardly convincing is it? So 14 people died in the space of (possibly) thirty years ? hardly unusual.

And surely it would also be hardly unusual to die by getting an arrow in your arse, I mean this could happen accidentally during a hunt. Yes it could have been murder - why should people in the neolithic have been any better tempered than now? it doesn't really mean the whole society was violent.

""We also know that the bodies of two people were scavenged and partially dismembered by dogs or wolves before their remains were buried in the monument." - well I thought it was common enough that bodies were left out to be nibbled before being popped in the barrows - the bones were often disarticulated when excavated? It's hardly news is it?

Anyway it couldjust be the way the BBC's interpreted it. Does anyone have any other information on this story?

jumble jim Mar 12, 2007 14:47:28

Replying to Rhiannon

I agree with Rhiannon.....it really annoys me that when it comes to "amateur" archaeology the "professionals are scathing and dismissive about any hypotheses put forward by the "amateurs", even though those hypotheses might be based on wide background reading and a good sound scientific approach.....and yet the "professionals" come up with unfounded conjectural drivel like this!

Pete G Mar 12, 2007 17:00:35

Replying to Rhiannon

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=time-to-meet-our-distant-ancestors-up-close%26method=full%26objectid=18740917%26siteid=50082-name_page.html

wysefool Mar 12, 2007 17:24:44

Replying to Rhiannon

I was def of the opinion that neolithic burial was pre-empted by exposure to rid the skeleton of its flesh and stuff before burial and concur!

Some may have died as a result of an arrowhead, but only 3 out of 14? my maths says that's not a massacre, more like a skirmish. You'd have to date all 3 murders and place them on the same day to prove it though, so I think that's conjecture.

As per my reply to the slumpystones excellent comment on silbury, English Heritage is an anagram of 'ethereal sighing'.

I'm off to Waylands to start a fight with some Archaeologist's, now where is that long bow I had ..... :-)

Wysefool

VenerableBottyBurp Mar 12, 2007 19:37:02

Replying to Rhiannon

I agree. It is a bit like suggesting any 20th century remains found on the Somme with a bullet injury is suspicious.

Only surprise is there isn't a claim this was the ancestral grave of the kings of Uffington or some such tosh.

Bah humbug etc.

VBB :)

slumpystones Mar 12, 2007 20:37:14

Replying to Rhiannon

"...and we're going over to Jeremy Bowen in the Neolithic...Jeremy, what can you tell us?"

"Well it appears that they are playing this whole affair down, and it's now being touted as a mere skirmish. What appears to have happened is that a young man on his first hunt let fly with his bow and hit another hunter up the arse with a flint-tipped arrow. The victim has received herbal medicinal treatment and is said to be sore but otherwise unharmed. The young hunter is charged with wreckless behaviour with a deadly weapon and is expected to plead not guilty. A spokesman for the juducial council said 'It's not the first time this has happened and it won't be the last. In fact, over the past 30 years, 14 people have suffered arrows up the arse as a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But we do have to follow procedure on this, as always'.
If found guilty, the young hunter can expect to be sentenced to napping duties.
Jeremy Bowen, Uffington Hill, the Neolithic."

handofdave Mar 14, 2007 01:27:13

Replying to Rhiannon

It's always amused me how isolated paleontological discoveries become the basis for grandly extrapolated scenarios.....

Rhiannon Mar 14, 2007 12:57:23

Replying to Rhiannon

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/display.var.1254034.0.0.php?utag=34317
Thanks Shropshire Traveller for that article. All the comments that could be made are already added to the end of it. Shame about the tree.