Festival of BRITISH archaeology ?

[Oxbeast]

Ooops, I thought it was the other way around.

[Curator Kid]

So technically, this should've been renamed the "Week-Long Festival of the Archaeology of Selected (but in a Non-Discriminatory Way) Discrete Areas of the British Isles" then? [xx(]

[BAJR Host]

"Festival of Archaeology" is good enough for me, as it does not pertain to a geographic area. Just because Scotland is kindly invited to join in (which in itself displays a notion that we(scotland) are separate and need to be invited to join in a British Event) does not make it British... its like our Archaeology Month... if we invited the rest of the world to join in, could we rename it World Archaeology Month, even if we only have a single participant in America?

Festival of Archaeology ... what's wrong with that?

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[Digitaldigging]

Bloody hell, no wonder there's confusion on the matter. . .

'Great Britain' describes England, Scotland and Wales, and the 'British Isles' describes Great Britain, Ireland, and the 6,000 or so smaller islands included in the group.
However, when dealing with the archaeology of the palaeolithic, shouldn't the territory be expanded to include Doggerland and, by logical extension, Holland and mainland Europe?

[Oxbeast]

Try using the phrase 'British Isles' to an Irish person, Digitaldigging. A lot of Irish literature that I've read refers euphemistically to 'these islands', not exactly helping with the confusion matter.

[historic building]

Festival of Archaeology would let everyone come in dressed as egyptians. Perhaps the CBA are thinking of stopping somewhere in south northumbria?

[BAJR Host]

Sadly the reply to my question missed the point and suggests I don't support the event... I do. that there are events in Scotland, just fewer than England ... hmmm.. I think the number is one event in Scotland. and that they are comfortable with the new name .. well thats ok then... phew!

The point is that seems to be missed is that it is a great event that takes place in England and Wales (and a bit in NI) an event that sees thousands enjoy archaeology and heritage .. top marks, and full support. In Scotland there is a similar event and we too have excavations, and tours and open days and events .. top marks... but lets not forget, the event in July is a 99.99% England Wales extraveganza...

Ho hum, just better notch it up to not thinking... and move on.

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[RedEarth]

quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host

I like the idea ... I like it.... I feel another trowel award coming on... perhaps he could rant on the injustice!!

Richard Herring might consider that a bit of an affront, also being a comedian.

But more seriously, why can't there be a festival of British or UK archaeology including everyone? Are we not all brothers (and sisters of course!)? Why does it have to end up fragmenting as soon as possible?

[Weegie]

No problem with your suggestion in principle, RedEarth. You'd have to ask CSA/Archaeology Scotland why they have a separate event, as I think I suggested the last time this question came up.

There is a practical issue, in that NAW/FOBA is timed just before the beginning of the school holidays in England and Wales, which makes sense down here, but the schools break up much earlier in Scotland, or at least they did in my day. So, during NAW/FOBA,many Scots will be turning an alarming shade of red on a beach somewhere rather than participating in archaeology-related events. [8D]

It does raise a question about the relationship between CBA and Archaeology Scotland, which seem to me to be drifting apart. This may be one of the unintended (or at least unpredicted) consequences of the devolution settlement, in which Scotland seems to be more determined to do its own thing, because it now can, but then again this tendency has been around for a while - it was CBA Scotland when I briefly graced its committee. Maybe it's just because we're thrawn ('perverse, obstinate, contrary, cross-grained, intractable, not amenable, in a dour sullen mood', according to the on-line Dictionary of the Scots Language).

Brian

[kevin wooldridge]

Is there any chance that this festival will include a subsidised beer tent where tired archaeologists might rest up and libate? Don't even mind talking to the public if they pay for the ale!!