Something of interest to mediaeval fans

[playmofire]

This article appeared in The Independent this weekend:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/medieval-history-in-the-making-2034074.html

[Martin Milner]

Very interesting Gordon thanks!

I don't know if ALL castles were plastered and painted, or just ones on the continent of Europe. "Living" archaeology is certainly a fascinating way to learn abotu the ancient techniques - I used to enjoy the BBC series "Secrets of the Ancients" - but this project is thousands of times more complex, time-consuming and downright daunting.

[playmofire]

Very interesting Gordon thanks!

I don't know if ALL castles were plastered and painted, or just ones on the continent of Europe. "Living" archaeology is certainly a fascinating way to learn abotu the ancient techniques - I used to enjoy the BBC series "Secrets of the Ancients" - but this project is thousands of times more complex, time-consuming and downright daunting.

Plastering and painting were also common in England.  Remember, in mediaeval times large parts of France were ruled by "English" kings who would spend part of the year in France so there would have been a great similarity in decoration etc between the two countries. 

[WarriorOfToys]

Sounds funny,
And looks really neat.
I will read more soon,
Thanks Gordon!

[Wolf Knight]

A most interesting article Gordon!! Thanks for the link! Literary, history on the making!

Archaeology is the search for facts, as a good friend of mine has put it... But anthropologists would argue otherwise... we may have the fact, material, blueprints etc etc, but the actual process of building is unknown to us...we can mostly speculate and interpret in our ways how things were done... This endevour in Château de Guédelon , and I envy such efforts are not taking place to reconstruct monuments in modern Greece (or should I say postmodern?), is a great mixture of both facts and interpretation actually, and I like that!!!

[Arizzo]

We (my wife and me) have been there 5 years ago during vacation in France - Guedelon is located just about one, maybe 1 and 1/2 hour (with the car) to the south from Paris.

It was a real interesting tour through medieval handcraft. They build nearly everything they need on their own and the visitors are allowed to have a closer look on their doings nearly everywhere on the area. They also do guided tours explaining what exactly they are doing (and why) around the site and offer medieval food and drinks at their resting area. You can also have a look at their architectural plans etc.

If you are ever around there in France I strongly recommend a visit at Guedelon. 

[Ali Baba]

Archaeology is the search for facts............

Hmmm, that statement is riddled with a lot of assumptions that are not scientific. For what is a fact, exactly? And who makes a fact a fact? There are a lot of matters about which scientists amongst themselves do not agree.

The science of archeology studies the relation between cultures and the material deposits they leave behind.

Or am I making things too heavy now?

Great article. I'll put this on my list of places to visit.

But............do I need to plaster my steck castle now???

[Arizzo]

But............do I need to plaster my steck castle now???

the answer is: yessssssssssssss




but only if you are a perfectionist & medieval aficionado, of course 

[Wolf Knight]

Hmmm, that statement is riddled with a lot of assumptions that are not scientific. For what is a fact, exactly? And who makes a fact a fact? There are a lot of matters about which scientists amongst themselves do not agree.

The science of archeology studies the relation between cultures and the material deposits they leave behind.

Or am I making things too heavy now?

No, not at all... It makes the anthropologist argument even stronger actually. Assumptions of course are not scientific...we can only speculate and an argument can be made if a person, or persons, have dealed, relived or experienced, what they consider to be, a fact!

What is a fact exactly? Well, that depends on the individual's, or group of people dealing with the fact, interpretation! Universal truths exist, but we give them the meaning we want to give them....

Unless you have an argument in mathematics, physics, or chemistry...and even there scientists are not always coherent.

But here is another question for you: Is archaeology a science? (Now I've gone too heavy...) Sorry, I miss those good old academic days... They used to drive me mad!!!

Anyways, back to playmobil!!! Yes, If you want a proper medieval castle you'll have to plaster it!!!  I'll get my plaster first thing in the morning!!!

[Justindo]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Playmofire!   I had no idea this existed and now I must see it someday!