Windy hill chickens - first flock(s) of my own

[kattabelly]

In a desperate attempt to get vaguely back on-topic, here's some interesting research about when domesticated chickens were first introduced to Europe:
Redefining the timing and circumstances of the chicken's introduction to Europe and north-west Africa

This also looks interesting, from the references, but it's a 700 page pdf of a PhD thesis so it's going to take me a while to get through it.
Living in Liminality: An Osteoarchaeological Investigation into the Use of Avian Resources in North Atlantic Island Environments.

(Apologies to Perris for not even attempting to use some kind of proper citation format there)

 

[Perris]

That first one is indeed interesting, and consistent with my current understanding of the chicken's conquest of Europe

The human-chicken co-burials are a bit odd. I am reminded of Socrates' reported last words: 'Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius; please see it is paid' (or words to that effect; meaning long pondered).

I suspect a lot else in archaeology is misdated via stratigraphy, and these direct methods offer much more sound foundations for speculation and reconstructions of deep historical periods.

 

[Shadrach]

That's a nice article but I hate how everyone always bangs on about Brodgar and Stenness and Maeshowe. There's so much more here and standing stones are (imo) far less impressive than the brochs and other structures that are actually recognisable equivalents to things we build and use today. Rousay especially absolutely deserves being known as the "ancient Egypt of the north" - I was lucky enough to volunteer on the Swandro dig a few years back and visited this year just as they were frantically trying to finish uncovering some new finds on their last day of work. There's an Iron Age earth house that's open to the public maybe 100m down the road from the place I buy chicken feed, on the small industrial estate at the edge of town.

And for a storyteller I'm kind of surprised not to read any mention of language or oral tradition!

And "on Orkney mainland" is really jarring to read, to the extent it kinda ruined the rest of it. No one would say that.

I think the thing to do is not tell people about these places. It's like those articles that publicise unspoiled beauty spots; they won't be unspoiled for long once a few thousand tourists have tramped through them due to some hack writing about them.

 

[kattabelly]

I think the thing to do is not tell people about these places. It's like those articles that publicise unspoiled beauty spots; they won't be unspoiled for long once a few thousand tourists have tramped through them due to some hack writing about them.

I get your point and I agree to an extent, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it would really make if say 10% of the people taking photos at Brodgar went off traipsing round the brochs instead.

Really I'd just like all the cruise ships to f off entirely.

 

[kattabelly]

Just had someone else offer to cover a thing I was meant to be covering for a different someone, so might be able to manage a quick run up to Shetland to swap the Barred Rocks over this Monday I'd really like to get the boys on the boat BEFORE they start crowing.

 

[Perris]

a quick run up to Shetland

how long does the boat take, in good weather?

 

[kattabelly]

how long does the boat take, in good weather?

5½ hours heading south but closer to 8 going north, for reasons I don't fully understand. The journey up will be overnight and coming back the boat leaves at 17:30, so both journeys will mostly be time they'd normally be roosting.

 

[Perris]

that's a broad notion of a 'quick' trip you're working with there

 

[kattabelly]

that's a broad notion of a 'quick' trip you're working with there

Straight there and back, I won't be staying in Shetland overnight. I'll be back home just over 27 hours after leaving.

 

[Perris]

Straight there and back, I won't be staying in Shetland overnight. I'll be back home just over 27 hours after leaving.

I know people who take breaks abroad in that time!

Do you need good sea legs too? I imagine that wind you talk of can have quite an effect on the seas round there.