Archaeometric Advances and Alchemical Artifacts
New Program to Integrate Archaeology and the Natural Science
When I stepped back from my doctoral program in archaeology to pick up a second bachelor degree in chemistry, there was a pretty understandable WTF? response, particularly from my peers. However, I had become frustrated, in part, because no one could answer the questions I was asking about the analysis and conservation of artifacts.
I'd also become incredibly annoyed by the fact that too many archaeologists still tend to start with the wrong question ("Why?") and thus subjectively fit the data to their bullshit theories, rather than objectively reviewing the data they have before they begin to ask "How?" and "What?"
(I ranted more about this on dear raincitygirl's journal when she mentioned Jared Diamond's latest book, unaware that his name can be whispered leagues away and I'll pick up on it. When I do hear that name, I am compelled to wade in, conflicted with love of his writing style and loathing for his sidestepping bullshit, and must inevitably work my way around to bitching about The Grand Master Fuckwit, Budge, because everything should work back to bitching about The Grand Master Fuckwit. Nnngh. Fucking Budge.)
But I digress.
The world is slowly catching up with me and, because I am gracious and good (shut up, people who actually know me), I forgive it for taking so long. Bar-Ilan University and the Weizmann Institute of Science are collaborating to create the sort of multidisciplinary program that I've dreamt about for years. This is a huge, important, and wonderful step for archaeology. I look forward to the contributions and colleagues this program will ultimately produce.
(Speaking of important contributions, I've added an additional article about the fantastic recovery of King Tut's dick thanks to a note from missravenx.)
Did Monks Try to Make Gold?
I admittedly have a weakness for alchemy and its role in founding modern science. But throw in the history of the Cistercians, the fact that they apparently banned alchemy in response to Pope John XXII's Papal Bull against alchemical counterfeit (spondet quas non exhibent) yet continued to secretly study it, AND the discovery of a fucking cool artifact (the alembic) notably located near a urinal? Oh, baby. I feel another geekgasm comin' on. *bites lip* Yeah. I'll be in my bunk.
When I stepped back from my doctoral program in archaeology to pick up a second bachelor degree in chemistry, there was a pretty understandable WTF? response, particularly from my peers. However, I had become frustrated, in part, because no one could answer the questions I was asking about the analysis and conservation of artifacts.
I'd also become incredibly annoyed by the fact that too many archaeologists still tend to start with the wrong question ("Why?") and thus subjectively fit the data to their bullshit theories, rather than objectively reviewing the data they have before they begin to ask "How?" and "What?"
(I ranted more about this on dear raincitygirl's journal when she mentioned Jared Diamond's latest book, unaware that his name can be whispered leagues away and I'll pick up on it. When I do hear that name, I am compelled to wade in, conflicted with love of his writing style and loathing for his sidestepping bullshit, and must inevitably work my way around to bitching about The Grand Master Fuckwit, Budge, because everything should work back to bitching about The Grand Master Fuckwit. Nnngh. Fucking Budge.)
But I digress.
The world is slowly catching up with me and, because I am gracious and good (shut up, people who actually know me), I forgive it for taking so long. Bar-Ilan University and the Weizmann Institute of Science are collaborating to create the sort of multidisciplinary program that I've dreamt about for years. This is a huge, important, and wonderful step for archaeology. I look forward to the contributions and colleagues this program will ultimately produce.
(Speaking of important contributions, I've added an additional article about the fantastic recovery of King Tut's dick thanks to a note from missravenx.)
Did Monks Try to Make Gold?
I admittedly have a weakness for alchemy and its role in founding modern science. But throw in the history of the Cistercians, the fact that they apparently banned alchemy in response to Pope John XXII's Papal Bull against alchemical counterfeit (spondet quas non exhibent) yet continued to secretly study it, AND the discovery of a fucking cool artifact (the alembic) notably located near a urinal? Oh, baby. I feel another geekgasm comin' on. *bites lip* Yeah. I'll be in my bunk.