I need an Archaeologist

[wobbler]

I remember there was a Time Team, where they found an anglo-saxon sword, but they had doubts about its authenticity, and thought it might have been planted by the landowner for some reason. They were vindicated when a little lower down under it, they found a strand of barbed wire....

The sword was genuine, but only known to exist in the La Tene culture. Apparently they lobbed swords in to lakes like there was no tomorrow.
I think it was all due to a Victorian reverend.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Llygadwy

Shielings (abandoned villages/summer grazing areas) in Scotland give you an idea of a point in the process. This page http://www.incallander.co.uk/shielings.htm has some quite nice photos. (Its just the first one I found while googling...)

Looks interesting.

 

[Arch]

The sword was genuine, but only known to exist in the La Tene culture. Apparently they lobbed swords in to lakes like there was no tomorrow.

Yes, that was it. I forgot the details.

Yes chucking stuff into water has been all the rage throughout history. There's another potential puzzler - those diving centres set up in quarries with sunken boats and other stuff for divers to explore and train in.

If you're practising flint knapping, you're supposed to work over a sheet and pick the debris up, so as not to leave false evidence of ancient activity for the future. Although if you worked on a patio, I guess the paving slabs underneath would give the game away.

 

[Maz]

I was wondering how the skeletal remains unearthed recently in Leicester could be positively identified as being those of Richard III. Does he have any living relatives with whom they could do a DNA match?

 

[Night Train]

I was wondering how the skeletal remains unearthed recently in Leicester could be positively identified as being those of Richard III. Does he have any living relatives with whom they could do a DNA match?

I think they were using a distant relative to get a match.

 

[asterix]

I think they were using a distant relative to get a match.

Yes, someone in Canada. Unfortunately, for some reason that escapes me, they could not find any close relatives. IIRC the result will be known in about 2 more months.

 

[ufkacbln]

Funny, in my year, I can think of one beard. 50% women, of course, so that helped. And a smattering of vegetarians. But in my dig, the highlight was the end of season whole lamb roasted on a spit. Not many lentils in sight,

What do you do for a living then, that's so worthy?

Sorry - it does beg the question....

Was the beard on one of the women?

 

[Night Train]

Sorry - it does beg the question....

Was the beard on one of the women?

Shhhh
Everyone, including Arch, promised not to mention it.

 

[Arch]

Shhhh
Everyone, including Arch, promised not to mention it.

Well, yes, it was my beard....

 

[Arch]

Yes, someone in Canada. Unfortunately, for some reason that escapes me, they could not find any close relatives. IIRC the result will be known in about 2 more months.

A quick google suggests that all his own children (legit and illegit) died without issue, and of course his nephews vanished in mysterious circumstances. Any living relation will be descended from a more distant relative.

I heard on Pick of the Week, that MPs are debating where he should be reburied. Leicester's in with a shout of course, but I think York and other places are trying to stake claims. Apparently there's only one other king whose body has gone astray, an early Henry who went missing somewhere near Reading during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. How careless!

 

[dellzeqq]

Funny, in my year, I can think of one beard. 50% women, of course, so that helped. And a smattering of vegetarians. But in my dig, the highlight was the end of season whole lamb roasted on a spit. Not many lentils in sight,

lots of women. Women, mud, sweat. Great times. (No roast lamb, though)

the archaeologists found a boat on site once. 15th century. I have to say I was uncommonly moved by it.

 

[asterix]

I heard on Pick of the Week, that MPs are debating where he should be reburied. Leicester's in with a shout of course, but I think York and other places are trying to stake claims.

Richard Of Leicester Gained Battles In Vain?!

Nah! It's York, obviously.

 

[Arch]

Richard Of Leicester Gained Battles In Vain?!

Nah! It's York, obviously.

I gather part of York's claim is that we have a Richard III museum, which is incidentally, possibly the smallest museum in the country!

Thinking about it, we don't even have a statue of him. We have a Roman emperor, a railway baron and an artist, that I can think of, but no king, unless you count all the ones on the rood screen in the Minster.