Thoughts….
Neolithic ceremonial sites such as stone circles, henges , avenue – the Avebury complex.
These sites have been speculated upon for decades. How can we separate our our perspective of the time we live in when interpreting the past. I don’t believe that we can as we can only understand from our contemporary experience. Returns to this idea of eavesdropping on the past. Advancement in scientific technology has fed into archaeological analysis in that we can confidently date a site using radio carbon dating etc but the analysis of how these people lived is more subjective and the intended use of an archaeological features is more subjective.
Consider also what elements from a time survive, what percentage is excavated, what is missed by the archaeologists during excavation. An excavation is generally around 10% of a known site, which is a very small cross section. What if a different 10 % of a site was dug – would it offer the same finds and interpretation. When working as an archaeologist it always struck me when considering these percentages how arbitrary the elaborate stories were that archaeologist constructed from the findings about the peoples who lived in these places.
Ethnocentrism: the evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one’s own culture.
Ritual and ceremony are popular and importance elements that are considered when looking at the past through an archaeological lens. Religion and ritual has evolved as a means for past people to connect to land and help explain their place in the world. Elaborate rituals are constructed which promote a sense of collectivism.
In taking something iconic such as rave and creating a ‘religion’ and iconography around this scene it highlights the difficulties in interpreting the ancient past. Or in fact the ease with which we misinterpret our past based on our present day experiences.
Vinca Peterson documenting the 90s tekknovals through Europe which saw tribal movements in convoys following the music from place to place. I keep returning to this notion that the is something transcendental when humans are lost in music and this taps into ritualistic practice and tribalistic movement. Within ritual space the chant , the repetition and drum beat, the dance, Within this space a sense of collectivism is achieved. It returns us to our a primitive existence and our relationship with land, life and mortality.