05-31-2006, 08:57 AM
Every month we can read them: reports about sensational archaeological discoveries. Often, the news is so sensational, that it is immediately clear that the aim of the press release is to generate publicity and raise funds (cf. [url:2edff13w]http://www.livius.org/opinion/opinion0004.html[/url]).
To 'encourage' this type of creative writing, the Castle of Aemstel prize will be awarded to the archaeologists who have best succeeded in misinforming the press. It is called after a fake discovery in Amsterdam in 1994.
Until now, the jury (which consists, to avoid needless discussion and leaks from the deliberations, of one person :wink: ) has announced the prize several times in the "Livius Newsletter". This time, the jury prefers to announce it to a larger audience; it hopes that next month, we can first nominate several press releases and organize a poll. (Your suggestions are welcome.)
This time, our prestigious award is given to the Roman Forum excavators and the BBC, for publishing
[url:2edff13w]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5031974.stm[/url]
The jury is impressed. Although the article mentions that it has been known for some time that people were living in Rome during the Bronze Age, we are supposed to believe that this is an important discovery. However, Bronze Age tombs have already been known for some time, even from the Forum, and the connection with the foundation of Rome is simply misleading.
People have been living in Rome from the mid-second millennium. Urbanization is defined as the clustering of hilltop villages during the period known as Latial IIb. This used to be dated to c.830-c.770, based on ceramics dating. In the meantime, the first 14C dates are known, and Latial IIb and the urbanization of Rome are now dated to c.900-c.850/820.
There is nothing surprising about our skeleton, except for the publicity. The jury is deeply impressed by so much creativity and congratulates the winners of the Castle of Aemstel Award.
Hall of shame (announced in the Livius Newsletter):
May: [url:2edff13w]http://www.forbes.com/2002/05/29/0529conn.html[/url]
April: [url:2edff13w]http://www.momentmag.com/olam/Apr06/MOM-2006-04_mazar.html[/url]
March: [url:2edff13w]http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20051114/goliath_arc.html[/url]
Your suggestions are welcome!
(Rule: [size=75:2edff13w]This pseudo-award should create some awareness about misleading press coverage. It is not meant to break people's careers or to bring people in trouble. It is too easy to nominate excavators in non-democratic countries, who are sometimes forced to make bold claims for other than financial aims.[/size])
To 'encourage' this type of creative writing, the Castle of Aemstel prize will be awarded to the archaeologists who have best succeeded in misinforming the press. It is called after a fake discovery in Amsterdam in 1994.
Until now, the jury (which consists, to avoid needless discussion and leaks from the deliberations, of one person :wink: ) has announced the prize several times in the "Livius Newsletter". This time, the jury prefers to announce it to a larger audience; it hopes that next month, we can first nominate several press releases and organize a poll. (Your suggestions are welcome.)
This time, our prestigious award is given to the Roman Forum excavators and the BBC, for publishing
[url:2edff13w]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5031974.stm[/url]
The jury is impressed. Although the article mentions that it has been known for some time that people were living in Rome during the Bronze Age, we are supposed to believe that this is an important discovery. However, Bronze Age tombs have already been known for some time, even from the Forum, and the connection with the foundation of Rome is simply misleading.
People have been living in Rome from the mid-second millennium. Urbanization is defined as the clustering of hilltop villages during the period known as Latial IIb. This used to be dated to c.830-c.770, based on ceramics dating. In the meantime, the first 14C dates are known, and Latial IIb and the urbanization of Rome are now dated to c.900-c.850/820.
There is nothing surprising about our skeleton, except for the publicity. The jury is deeply impressed by so much creativity and congratulates the winners of the Castle of Aemstel Award.
Hall of shame (announced in the Livius Newsletter):
May: [url:2edff13w]http://www.forbes.com/2002/05/29/0529conn.html[/url]
April: [url:2edff13w]http://www.momentmag.com/olam/Apr06/MOM-2006-04_mazar.html[/url]
March: [url:2edff13w]http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20051114/goliath_arc.html[/url]
Your suggestions are welcome!
(Rule: [size=75:2edff13w]This pseudo-award should create some awareness about misleading press coverage. It is not meant to break people's careers or to bring people in trouble. It is too easy to nominate excavators in non-democratic countries, who are sometimes forced to make bold claims for other than financial aims.[/size])
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