Theory that \'Celts\' are a myth

[authun]

I had to explain to her that although they all have the same info there is the matter of interpretation, intentional or uninentional bias, how people cherry pick facts to fit theories unintentionally or intentionally and of course sometimes a need for sensationalism to sell books.

Articles appearing in peer publications are very narrowly focused on a specific question and have to report all possible interpretations. However, these people are human and have their own ideas and with knowledge of other peer publications they can write books with what they see as a 'best fit' for whatever particular model they prefer.

For example, two cemeteries, Queenford Farm and Berinsfield are in close proximity and represent late Romano British and early Anglo Saxon cemeteries resp. They are of obvious interest to both acculturalists and migrationists alike. Do the dates overlap, if so to what degree, does Berinsfield start where Queenford Farm ends or is there a hiatus between the two and if so, how big is the gap? Secure dating is obviously required. Before any firm dates are available, based on artefact evidence, migrationists would argue for Berinsfield replacing Queenford Farm whilst acculturalists would argue that they were contemporary and represent a change from one culture to the other within the same population.

The dates published in Antiquity Journal found a slight overlap and the authors therefore have to state both acculturalist and migrationist models:

"The start of a new cemetery at Berinsfield demonstrates a new approach to burial, focusing on grave furnishings. It came into use while the last burials at Queenford Farm were taking place. Changes in burial practice and in the location of cemeteries have happened often within recorded history without a major population change, and we could be seeing such a shift here, with a move by the local population over a generation from one burial site to the other. However, the continental influence apparent within the Berinsfield grave assemblages does support arguments for new arrivals, while the biological evidence, even if not securely linked to ethnic origins, at least suggests some significant differences (for example in diet and stature) between the two populations."

As the dates overlap, it is not conclusive but the people who do these studies must be itching to state what they think has happened. But, they can't do it in a peer study so my guess is, if they feel strongly enough, they write a book and use this and other data that they have to argue their preferred case.

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authun