archaeological strategy-- the good and the bad

[Frank Harrist]

It seems to me that a person with the user name "archaeologist" would have a little more knowledge on the subject. As archaeologists go, you are a joke. I have zero respect for you and your lack of intelligence. You're a troll, closed minded, and I would like nothing more than to see you banned from this forum. I have seen your baiting methods and I have seen other good people banned because they rose to your bait. You are the worst thing that has ever happened to this forum. Why don't you stick to things you actually know something about? Things like your fantasy about the bible being absolute truth. That alone is enough to show everyone your lack of intelligence. I'm sick of your shit!



THAT is how I really feel.

[Guest]

frank, yo are entitled to your opinion. nothing was done nor said that attacked you or your position.

this is an investigative topic and if you don't like it-- i can't help it. there is nothing wrong with exploring methods and procedures to find the proper answer.

i have not baited anyone nor have i come here to do anything but discuss but seeing that your true colors are showing, it would be wise if you remove yourself as moderator as you obviously cannot administer your duties fairly or honestly and seek to have everyone think like yo do or you abuse and threaten them till they leave or break.

your false accusations against me only reflect that you took marduk's departure personally and are out for revenge not honest administration of the duties entrusted to you by michelle.

if you recall i asked that marduk not be banned and not only did i say that publically but in pm to michelle as well. his departure was her decision alone and i had nothing to do with it. he was out of control just as you are getting to be right now.

so i am trying to keep this on an adult level and ask you to examine your motives and be honest about what you are saying and doing. i have kept my posts in line with the rules and have continued to post links, sources and quotes that support my side which is what anyone else does here. so if you ban me then you must ban everyone else.

having a different perspective is not a crime unless it promotes censorship.

[Guest]

i have removed this post , though true, as it should not have been said nor in the manner it was said.

i regret bringing it up as there are some who will use it for a wrong purpose and not for constructive dialogue on the topics listed in the index.

[Cognito]

i have not baited anyone nor have i come here to do anything but discuss but seeing that your true colors are showing, it would be wise if you remove yourself as moderator as you obviously cannot administer your duties fairly or honestly and seek to have everyone think like yo do or you abuse and threaten them till they leave or break.

Archie, you are rambling and insulting. I have known Frank for some time and have never known him to use such techniques -- he has no interest in abusing or threatening anyone to come to his opinion; however, I have noticed that you argue with anyone here who disagrees with your literal biblical viewpoints. This is not a bible forum, and your comments appear to be further projections of your own behavior.

[Minimalist]

I'm talking about things in the soil or other unknowns which we may destroy in the excavation. This is a stupid discussion and I refuse to participate in it any further. Arch you live in some kind of fantasy world. Grow up, wake up, or shut up.

Frank, Lighten Up, man.

This is actually not all that bad a discussion and the issue of excavation versus preservation is one that is quite pertinent.

I seem to recall a thread here where museums were complaining that they did not have enough room to store all the artifacts being uncovered.

[Starflower]

archaeological strategy-- the good and the bad?

[Guest]

i have said what i needed to say and will not address any more critcisms but continue on with the discussion.

i am not saying frank is wrong nor am i attacking his way of doing things,i am doing an exploration into what is good and bad about the present archaeological methods and practices. in my mind there is nothing wrong with re-evaluating what is going on and asking what could be done differently.

it was stated in the original post that the factor of money and cost is important but not germane to the discussion because we are looking at methods not price or availability of funds. everyone knows this so it is a given.

as for cognito's comments, those are for a different thread and i will not deal with them here, it is also an old argument which doesn't need to be rehased in rushed terms.

[Cognito]

p.s. i did my masters degree under the tutlage of real archaeologists and i completed it in 2 1/2 months with an A- average. i would have had an A average if i slowed down and did it in 4 months.

Arch, where on earth did you get through a master's program in 2-1/2 months?

[Frank Harrist]

Must have been a mail order course or something. I have no degree at all, but I would venture to say that I'm a better archaeologist than this troll will ever be. I live in the real world. This is a fantasy.

[Guest]

i refuse to be drawn into off topic conversations that lead no where.

This is actually not all that bad a discussion and the issue of excavation versus preservation is one that is quite pertinent

K.A. Kitchen pointed out in his book, The Bible in Its World, that many sites suffer from wind damage and much is blown away and this is a concern when one wants to return in later years. what are they returning to? is it the same site that was left for the future?

Frank raised a concern about soil but i wonder how much of the soil is left or uncontaminated by departing sands and incoming depsits? how would future technology solve this dilemma?

this is a problem that needs to be addressed and one of the reasons why i prefer a complete excavation to a partial one. there are too many risks , in my opinion, to just leave information buried in the dirt. i do not see the benefits when it is compared to negative impact that would come from the present practice.

[Cognito]

Arch: i did my masters degree under the tutlage of real archaeologists and i completed it in 2 1/2 months with an A- average. i would have had an A average if i slowed down and did it in 4 months.

Cognito: Arch, where on earth did you get through a master's program in 2-1/2 months?

Arch: i refuse to be drawn into off topic conversations that lead no where.

Arch, you brought up the fact that you have a masters degree in archaeology under the tutelage of real archaeologists in order to substantiate your expertise. Since we are discussing archaeology here and elsewhere, I would appreciate your answering my question. Where did you get through a master's program in 2-1/2 months? We are certainly "on topic" based on your representations.

[Frank Harrist]

Arch, have you ever worked on a real dig? I mean have you been down in the dirt on your hands an knees with a trowel digging? Have you ever looked for and found features in the soil? Ever drawn a plan of features and artifacts in situ? Ever studied profiles in the stratum? Have you ever worked all day in a 2 meter by 2 meter unit and found post hole molds? Ever done anything besides sit there at your computer and tell the real archaeologists that they're doing it all wrong? Hve you ever done any practical archaeology at all? I have and I know the practicalities of the real archaeological world. It just isn't possible. There isn't enough time or money or personell to do the things you say should be done. There are things in the dirt which you can't see with the naked eye and digging all of them up insures that they will never be seen. It's easy to dream that we could dig up everything now and study it later, but the fact remains that it is impossible to do without destroying things we don't even know exist yet. You seem to think that all archaeology is done in the middle east because we all want to prove or disprove the bible. Most of us could care less whether the bible is true or not. It just isn't important and isn't relevant to most digs. Wind damage isn't even a factor here in East Texas where the soils are stable and most of the things we study are way below the surface. Why is it that everything you post here is not based in the real world? I'm just trying to understand why you think fantasies can come true. Get real, man.

[Guest]

Wind damage isn't even a factor here in East Texas where the soils are stable and most of the things we study are way below the surface

frank, every country i am sure will be different in its conditions. i am sure that you do not have looters to worry about either. so this discussion would not reflect upon you or your work and is not intended to be an attack on your methods.

it is simply a general discussion on archaeology in general.

It's easy to dream that we could dig up everything now and study it later, but the fact remains that it is impossible to do without destroying things we don't even know exist yet.

i understand things will get destroyed but i do not see how it can be avoided if they are as microscopic as you tell us. remember we are preserving sites for technology that know one has conceived of yet nor do we have a guarentee that they will and i am questioning the validity of that method given the reality of the present situation.

You seem to think that all archaeology is done in the middle east because we all want to prove or disprove the bible. Most of us could care less whether the bible is true or not. It just isn't important and isn't relevant to most digs

no i don't and that is why you see me participate in only a few threads. if i do enter an outside thread, you do see me ask questions and you do not see me arguing or baiting anyone. i need more information just like everyone else.

Ever done anything besides sit there at your computer and tell the real archaeologists that they're doing it all wrong

i amnot sayng they are doing it wrong, i am exploring the situation and the strategy and wonder if we should not change methodology. i prefer a complete excavation because what can be gained now is probably far more important than dying not knowing what was missed.

Why is it that everything you post here is not based in the real world?

it is a discussion with a qualifier. if you remember i mentioned the money factor in the beginning, that is a given and i already know what can and can't be done financially but i am questioning and investigating with that given in mind. not trying to bring any fantasy to life here but discussing how we can make changes to gather the ost information without exposing it to the risks that are very real.

[Frank Harrist]

Just answer the damn question. troll! Have you ever worked in the field at all? It's a simple yes or no question. And as to your not baiting anyone...bullshit. Don't sit there all inocent like you never tried to get an argument out of anyone and don't talk down to me like I'm a child. I know what I'm doing. You are the one who is questionable.

[Frank Harrist]

Everyone else besides arch; I apologize for my tirade, but I am sick of this troll's shit. One of us will be leaving this forum. If it's me, then so be it. I have had my fill of this asshole. Just so you know, it isn't just this thread that has me pissed. It's everything this jerk has done, all the people he has pissed off so bad that they flamed up at him until they got banned. If he stays I'm gone! If you can't see his baiting, trolling methods then you deserve to have to listen to his bullshit.