Dr Martin Rundkvist is a Swedish archaeologist, journal editor, public speaker, skeptic, atheist, lefty liberal, bookworm, and father of two.
Here's an idea for bloggers with an archaeological bent. I'm thinking of putting together a one-off carnival about people's nearest archaeological sites. You go to the nearest site you're aware of, snap a picture of it and explain (in as many or few words you like) the site's significance and life-history in a blog entry. Then you send me the link, and when I've got a fair number, I put them together in a link-fest, plug it on Reddit & Co, everybody votes for it and we all get a traffic spike. You don't need any formal qualifications to contribute.
Sound like fun? Please leave a comment if you're interested.
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Comments
I'm interested....
Posted by: Natalie Bennett | June 23, 2007 06:17 AM
Good one Martin, btw, when do you want contributions by?
Posted by: Tim Jones | June 23, 2007 06:17 AM
Sounds like a great idea! But can it wait until after the summer? I will be going to Ireland in July, and there we have lots of nice sites - medieval churches with graveyards are especially common.
Posted by: paddy | June 23, 2007 06:19 AM
I guess I'll want the submissions ASAP, and when I've got nine (which will make ten with my own piece) I'll put the carnival on-line. Later submissions can then be added as they pop up.
Paddy, I don't know when it'll be, but I'll happily link to your entry after the summer if you just give me a nice pic. Also, I'm sure you'll be able to find a broadband connection somewhere on the Green Isle.
Posted by: Martin R | June 23, 2007 10:02 AM
I'm in!
Posted by: Kris Hirst | June 23, 2007 10:14 AM
Good idea! Do you mind if I copy your call for contributions on the American Presidents Blog? Also, I am going to China and would love to cover the Great Wall of China. It is not close to me normally but will be as I travel in July...Is that OK?
Posted by: Michael Lorenzen | June 23, 2007 11:01 AM
Sure, the more the merrier!
Posted by: Martin R | June 23, 2007 11:25 AM
Count me in, but I'll have to think further on how to do it. Sites aren't the problem - plenty of those - but there are a lot of people here who think (erroneously, I believe) that advertising sites amounts to opening them up for looting. You're not asking for site locations, I know, but believe it or not, it's more of a sensitive issue than many might realize - some people (including tribal folks) seem to think that if you don't bring any attention to sites, no one will bother them. Personally, I firmly believe that being more open about our archaeological resources with the public does more in the long run to preserve and protect them (and that issue itself would be a good one for we archaeologists to hash out in the blogosphere). So, of course, I think Marin's idea is great and I intend to participate...
Posted by: Christopher J. O'Brien | June 23, 2007 11:45 AM
Sweden has a generous definition of what constitutes an archaeological site. Most of our sites contain nothing whatsoever that would be worth a looter's while.
As for knowing where the sites are, Swedish standard maps available in every bookstore have had the best (most lootworthy and scenic) sites marked on them for half a century. This is to protect the sites from inadvertently destructive land development, which poses a far greater threat here than looting. People can only preserve and appreciate their cultural heritage if they know about it.
Posted by: Martin R | June 23, 2007 12:11 PM
I'm doing an REU program in Arizona right now, we've seen some great sites, I'd definitely like to participate if you've still got room. Do you want an e-mail with the picture and write-up, or just a link to the blog post?
Posted by: Anne-Marie | June 23, 2007 12:35 PM
Just a link! You know, an important purpose of a blog carnival is to shunt the reader stream to the participants' blogs.
Posted by: Martin R | June 23, 2007 12:40 PM
I'm in.
Posted by: Henrik | June 24, 2007 06:38 AM
Sounds like fun! Depending on time I'm in!
Posted by: Magnus W | June 24, 2007 06:50 AM
The nearest "archaeological site" to me is, unfortunately, the Kensington Runestone site. Maybe a Swede would appreciate it, though...
Posted by: PZ Myers | June 24, 2007 09:54 AM
PZ, that may be your nearest famous site, but chances are you have some more nondescript settlement site or cemetery only a few hundred meters from your house. Anyway, the Kensington site is a fine piece of 19th century archaeology. (-;
Posted by: Martin R | June 24, 2007 10:41 AM
I went out last night to take pictures of the surviving mounds in my county for you...mostly took pictures of the drought. They will be up on www.deltaarchaeology.us soon.
Posted by: Mary | June 24, 2007 03:32 PM
I'm in...there's plenty of archaeo sites around here (Athens)!
Posted by: Daphne | June 25, 2007 03:29 AM