Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

And just think: all this stuff about radioactivity was first observed by a woman! Marie Curie. Although there were some other folks working on similar lines at the time, she did more sooner than they did.

Yes ~ though the radiocarbon dating goes to a man called Libby. I think he's the only archaeologist to receive a Noble Peace Prize.

 

[MaryJanet]

That's it, RC! They talk about half lives ~ which is where you end up after a certain amount of time ~ a very long time....& no, I'm not being expected to actually do the math ~ though some people are. This is an introductory course so I can do dead bodies later. Those who are interested in calibrating stuff can have a go.

What I'm interested in is people ~ and being dead they give me no real grief! For Writing: Styles & Context I had to submit a book proposal for something I might write.
I did mine on Skara Brae (oldest Neolithic settlement in Europe) Working title: Skara Brae; Living sustainably in the Neolithic Age, because I could talk about the great sweep of history in Scotland that barely changed in some ways for centuries due to the climate but which was sustainable because it incorporated a little bit of everything. It was how the crofters managed in a landscape that refused to grow much. Anthropology looks @ this stuff too but tends to look @ living cultures which I find rather disrespectful. History tends to focus on politics & wars ~ both extraordinarily dull. I like the everyday things that show how little people have really changed.

I imagine there are some strong parallels between the crofters and the Australian Aboriginal peoples' ways of living sustainably

 

[Ribh]

It's not blather! I'm genuinely fascinated!

Exactly!

Well, I can propably supply you with vast amounts of trivia for some time. My mind doesn't work in strictly academic lines but it reveres esoteric knowledge.

 

[Ribh]

I imagine there are some strong parallels between the crofters and the Australian Aboriginal peoples' ways of living sustainably

I suspect the Aboriginal mobs moved around more in their territories whereas the crofters farmed a little, raised a few livestock, fished a little & had croft industries (like tweed) that sold well in the southern markets. Mind you knowing how tweed was made has rather put me off it.

 

[MaryJanet]

I suspect the Aboriginal mobs moved around more in their territories whereas the crofters farmed a little, raised a few livestock, fished a little & had croft industries (like tweed) that sold well in the southern markets. Mind you knowing how tweed was made has rather put me off it.

Don't tell me. I love tweed.

Ok, tell me. I need to know. I thought the wool was harvested from sheep then spun, then woven. Is there something else to it?

 

[RoyalChick]

Don't tell me. I love tweed.

Ok, tell me. I need to know. I thought the wool was harvested from sheep then spun, then woven. Is there something else to it?

I am scared to find out!

 

[Ribh]

Don't tell me. I love tweed.

Ok, tell me. I need to know. I thought the wool was harvested from sheep then spun, then woven. Is there something else to it?

Are you sure? I am laughing so hard here.... See the crofts didn't have indoor dunnies but they did have a barrel at the door that all the blokes would urinate in & the tweed was soaked in these urine barrels...I don't think they still do it but that is the traditional method.

 

[MaryJanet]

Are you sure? I am laughing so hard here.... See the crofts didn't have indoor dunnies but they did have a barrel at the door that all the blokes would urinate in & the tweed was soaked in these urine barrels...I don't think they still do it but that is the traditional method.

Oh that's not so bad!! I was expecting much worse

 

[RoyalChick]

Are you sure? I am laughing so hard here.... See the crofts didn't have indoor dunnies but they did have a barrel at the door that all the blokes would urinate in & the tweed was soaked in these urine barrels...I don't think they still do it but that is the traditional method.

Why? To soften the wool or something? I mean I get theydidn't have plumbing, but why involve the tweed?

 

[Ribh]

Oh that's not so bad!! I was expecting much worse

And obviously it was all washed before it was sold ~ so not too bad @ all.