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February 9, 2006
The Biggest and the Most Important
A week or so ago, afarensis (I can't find the exact post) listed his biggest pet peeves regarding archaeology. I have one that is so much bigger and more important than any of the others that I will mention it alone. My pet peeve is exemplified in the following quotation from an announcement of what is no doubt a very important find,
He added that the find was the biggest of its kind and was invaluable for historians to deepen their understanding of the period. [Haaretz Daily]
The "he" here is Peter Fabian who has uncovered dozens of ancient, 6000 year old (presumably chalcolithic), tombs near Kiryat Gat in the Negev. This discovery came from a salvage excavation which was forced by the construction of a highway. The tomb gifts, "pottery, statues and jewelry all in mint-condition," sound exciting and anthropologists will learn a great deal from this discovery. But does it really make sense that 10% of the words in the Haaretz Daily article are devoted to the size and importance of the find?
It may be that this is the biggest find of its kind; it may well be invaluable for historians; but the first point, even if true, is irrelevant and the second point can only be supported as historians study the find and integrate it into their picture of that age.
Posted by Duane Smith at February 9, 2006 7:44 AM | Read more on Archaeology |
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Comments
It's here. Probably could have mentioned that one too, if I had thought of it.
Posted by: afarensis at February 9, 2006 12:24 PM
Thanks for the link to your post.
Posted by: Duane at February 9, 2006 4:20 PM
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.
Send me an email if it is important.