We are one of the world’s leading archaeology departments. Our work takes in the full scope of human history, from early hunter-gatherers through to the origins of agriculture, and the classical and medieval worlds, as well as the environmental settings in which they existed. We do this in just about every inhabited part of the world. The past is of vital interest to the present too, because it raises complex issues of identity, ethics and belonging that we see as crucial areas for debate.
We have several specialist centres within the School which focus on particular themes or methods: they include the internationally recognised Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (incorporating a national NERC Radiocarbon Facility), the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology, the PalaeoBarn (home of the Wellcome Trust Palaeogenomics & Bio-Archaeology Research Network), and the Oxford Centre for Asian Archaeology, Art and Culture.
I couldn't make it through this lecture. I listen to lectures to learn about what is being learned by scientific research. This is philosophy and politics. I didn't get any information from the first 20 minutes, just rhetoric.
Thank you Dr Bruck. It's wonderful to hear about archeological work very different from the usual. I studied archeology 50+ years ago and have kept my interest. I'll look up your publications.
I've always been intrigued with magic, occult, etc. and their history. This is an excellent lecture on magic that piqued my interest. I hope to see more content like this!
Thank you, just what I needed. I'm writing a book and need to contextualise the main subject alongside an understanding of the history of magic. I've ordered your book. If you are interested in modern physics and magic - have you read Dan Winter's stuff? Here's a link to his latest video, specifically discussing physics and magic, with a bit of John Dee thrown in. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Z1da2wnvV70.html
I have a some what not complete understanding of quantum physics, although I believe, they have been able to teleport particles as well as use quantum entanglement to communicate faster then light. But the belief of particles being affected by observation is very much modern magic at it's finest. It is not the only example of gaggles of scientist who believe instead of work trough tangible proof. Just look at the scientist who have been searching for dark matter for over 100 years now. The theory of dark matter is almost considered a fact now, even if the only "proof" is a 100 year old observation that did not compute using our basic understanding of physics and the only way for the man who coined the term could make it compute, was by adding matter that he could not see. Hens why these dark matter theorist believe the the universe is like 80% dark, invisible, undetectable matter and not that our equations whom where flawed before are flawed now. As for the affecting of particles trough observations, I believe that it's scientist who believe that particles like light acts as a wave until it is observed, where it then acts as a particle. This believe is called wave-particle duality. An infamous experiment, demonstrated that single particle shoot at a double slit would give a pattern of impacts similar to the pattern observed if a wave of water was sent trough double slits. The believers of wave-particle duality came up with the explanations that it must act as a wave, but as soon as we try to observe it, the mathematical function that predicts this pattern some how collapse and the wave becomes a singular particle. Now trough multiple theories that have been proven, I believe that matter, light and everything is simply composed of energy waves, which would explain it being predispose to fallow the wave function. funnily enough, people who just believe in particles also just think that the function just predicts the position of the particle and that in no way are detection of it affect its being. So although these two view are some what contrary., since both of them rely on facts and some of those facts are the same, they both conclude the same how ever you have you special magical case of beliefs which cannot be proven since it's impossible to not observe and therefor prove it. The same thing can be observed in dark matter theorist. The people who are trying to update the mathematics formulas of gravity to explain what leads to the beliefs of dark matter, do have similar ideas while how ever, since dark matter is the popular theory because its simpler to not admit that the math are wrong, these new formulas have to be tested in models against everything attributed to dark matter. This can be transposed to scientist who try to convert religious being to the idea that there are other explanations then a god but some how need to come up with 1 universal theory to replace god entirely. Sorry for this verbal vomit, in conclusion modern Science has much more in common with beliefs in gods and magic and less with the idea of the scientific revolution which is to prove trough repeatable experiments.
Dear Professor Gosden: Thank You for a very informative and provocative lecture. The boundaries between Magic, Religion, and Science are not so clear cut after all.
Let’s convince UNESCO. Jordan has another monument. It will be as important as Petra or even more. There are interesting ruins and reliefs on the Black Desert, dated 8,500 years old. They can only be seen from planes, drones, satellites and helicopters. Archaeologists don't exactly know nowadays what they represent. These ruins really represent embryos of several species in different stages of development and will be able to shed light on the origin of the human being and our planet. When it will be officially confirmed by biologists, this discovery will be a delight for the eyes, shed light to the origin of humanity. Activate the subtitles in English: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rikVfTbX2Mo.html It contains the documentation with the Jordanian authorities about this scientific and archaeological discovery.
